CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THIS BOOK IS THE GIFT OF Joun P. YounG RETURN TO ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY ITHACA, N. Y. Cornell Universit “ina OUR COUNTRY’S BIRDS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM. A GUIDE TO ALL THE BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN, BY W. J. GORDON. WITH AN ILLUSTRATION IN COLOUR OF EVERY SPECIES AND MANY ORIGINAL DIAGRAMS BY G. WILLIS anp R. E. HOLDING. NINETEENTH THOUSAND. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & Co., Liwtep, ult NN Le tale UNEVERS LLY Lio Rey Our Country’s Series. By W. J. Gorpon. Each with 33 coloured plates and other illustrations. Crown 8vo, 6/= each. Also in a leather binding. Our Country’s Flowers and How to Know Them. A complete Guide to the Flowers and Ferns of Great Britain. Our Country’s Birds and How to Know Them. A Guide to all the Birds of Great Britain. Our Country’s Butterflies and_Moths and How to Know Them. A Guide to the Lepidoptera of Great Britain. Our Country’s Shells and How to Know Them. A Guide to the British Mollusca. Our Country’s Fishes and How to Know “Them. A Guide to all the Fishes of Great Britain. Our Country’s Animals and How to Know Them. (Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians.) Eggs of British Birds. Being a supple- ment to ‘Our Country’s Birds.” With 16 full-page coloured plates. 3/6 INTRODUCTION. HE object of this book is to enable anyone to recognise and Wk readily distinguish the birds on the British list; and this it does by a system of elimination somewhat similar to that adopted in “Our Country’s Flowers.” To the beginner it is assuredly of the first importance that he should know the name of the thing with Which he is dealing. Until he knows that, he is unable to ascertain what is already known about it, for the existing books invariably assume that he possesses this preliminary knowledge. And when he knows more of his subject a handy method of separating family from family, genus from genus, and species from species, by a few prominent characteristics, must have its advantages, if only in the saving of labour and time. Although our book necessarily touches on the genera! subject, its examples are strictly limited to our country’s avifauna, concerning which an awkward question presents itself, which may fitly be answered in this introduction. What is a British bird? Strictly speaking, there is but one British bird, and that is the one the state of whose health is invariably chronicled in the newspapers on or about the 12th of August. The Red Grouse is the only bird peculiar to this island, and found native nowhere else. The rest of the birds we see around us are mostly characteristic of the whole Palzearctic region, stretching right away to Japan, while some go as far south as the Victoria Nyanza, and A 2 lv INTRODUCTION, further to the Transvaal, and others even breed as far to the north as Grinnell Land, within eight degrees of the Pole. Of this miscellaneous troop of residents and visitors, regular and irregular, there are nearly four hundred; but among the visitors are a large sprinkling of “casuals,” included on very doubtful pretences. Englishmen are often accused of a desire to paint the world red; the average British ornithologist would apparently like to paint all the birds red, provided his name appeared on the label. Really one shudders at the audacity with which the Flamingo, for instance, is claimed as British, although there is an excuse for so claiming him; but when we find Bulwer’s Petrel duly naturalised on the strength of a solitary specimen found floating dead in a Yorkshire river, we feel that we are quite near enough to the unreasonable. There are at least a hundred and fifty species gathered under the home flag, owing to their having been killed in this country in much the same way as if we were to shoot the Chinese Ambassador and claim him as British because he died on British ground. But would he have come in a “wild” state? Perhaps not; but neither did all the birds that figure in the British list. It is very difficult to draw the line; though, at first sight, the only true ground of admission would seem to be a birth qualification. If a bird can be shown to breed kere, out of captivity, some at least of his kind can be assumed to be of British nationality. If, however, we were to adopt this qualification, we should only have the birds whose names appear in the outer margin in our third chapter, and many of our familiar friends would be lost to us. But we need hardly trouble ourselves further in this matter, although we could not well pass it unnoticed. This is a book of identification, not of classi- fication; and it is obvious that our only course is to adopt the full authorised list, and show how the species can be distinguished from each other; and when we have done that, we can remark on the fewness of appearances which has enabled so many of the rarer birds to lengthen and complicate our task. In our first chapter are the names, both popular and technical, which have been used throughout; in the second is a long list of the common and rarer local names, with references to the numbers under which the birds are described, although, to save mere repetition, these names may not again be mentioned. In the next chapter is the systematic list, so that with the first part of the book, and the plates, a bird whose name is known can be at once identified. The plates contain a figure in colour of a male in full plumage of every species in the three lists, and in a few instances the female is also given. Inthe fourth chapter the families are sorted out so as to leave the Passerine birds for special treatment; and in the fifth the key to this sorting is given in the table to which the specimen it is desired to name should be referred. The sixth and seventh chapters are on a similar principle: in the one the Passerines are sorted out, and examples given of identification, and in the other the key to this arrangement is given in tabular form. In the eighth chapter the families are grouped into the orders, old and new, although the orders are not necessary in our plan of identification. In the ninth chapter the families are arranged alphabetically, and with this index the specimen should be compared to confirm the diagnosis obtained from the previous keys. When the family is known, reference should be made to the next chapter in which is the analysis into genera; and when the genus is known, the index of species should be cunsulted in which the genera are in turn analysed, and brief notes given as to plumage, flight, song, and nest. In the twelfth chapter the dimensions of each bird are worked out so as to help in its identification by measurement ; and in the last chapter is a tabular arrangement for the identification of the eggs. In short, we have endeavoured to get at the bird’s iden- tification in many ways, and have relied on combination for success. W. ji G 1. THE NAMES OF THE BIRDS. 1. LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES CON Dose ll. THE COLOURED PLATES Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate i, figures il, iil, iv., Vv. vi, vii., viii., ix., xi, xii, xili., xiv. XV. Xvi, XWi., xviii, xix, XX%y xxi, Xxii., ” I to 12 - 27 - 45 - 60 - 3 87 - 102 — 119 — 132 - 144 —- 153 — 161 — 171 - 179 - 188 — 199 — 208 — 217 - 227 - 235 = 249 - 26. 44. 59. 72. 86. 101. 131, 143. 152. 160. 170. 178. 187. 198, 207. 216. 226. 234. 248. 262, PAGE Flate xxiii, figures 263 to 2722, Plate xxiv. 4 273 — 284. Plate xxv., 4 285 - 291. Plate xxvi, ,, 292 — 303. Plate xxvii, ,, 304 - 316. Plate xxviii, 4, 317 - 328. Plate xxix, 5, 329 - 340. Plate xxx, ,, 341 — 353. Plate xxxi, 5 354 — 368. Plate xxxii., 4 369 - 383. Plate xxxiii., , 384 - 398. Iv. SORTATION % 2 é 5 a ‘ ‘ é 29 v. THE FAMILIES . s 3 = é 5 : - . 40 vil. EXAMPLES OF IDENTIFICATION . . . . . 43 vir. THE PASSERINE SUB-FAMILIES . . ‘ . ° 55 vill. THE ORDERS . ‘ . . . . ° . . 57 IX. INDEX TO THE FAMILIES AND SUB-FAMILIES . . 62 x. THE GENERA . < . . . z 7 ‘ ‘ 67 XI. THE SPECIES . eo «© & . 7 » ts . 75 Xl. DIMENSIONS . . $ . . . ° . » ABT XIll. EGGs . ° ’ . e a s ® . 140 DIAGRAMS, Fans PAGE FOOT OF FALCON . . . s Ci ‘ 29 Foot oF OWL . - . . ‘ é 30 FOOT OF GUILLEMOT . > % 3 . 31 WING OF ROOK ‘ ‘ 3 . . ; 31 FoOoT oF STONE CURLEW , ‘ f ‘ : 32 FOOT OF GOLDEN PLOVER . ‘ ‘ 3 3 33 DORSAL VIEW OF THRUSH . . ‘ ‘ ‘ 33 VENTRAL VIEW OF THRUSH . 5 ‘ 7 . 34 FOOT OF CORMORANT ; . » . ‘i 34 Foot oF Ivory GULL : ‘3 é j . 35 FOOT OF SWAN ‘ . . 7 Z . 35 FOOT oF AVOCET ‘ . : 5 36 FOOT OF KINGFISHER . . ; : : ‘i 36 FoOoT OF PHEASANT . : ‘i : A ‘ 36 BEAK OF NIGHTJAR . ‘ : ‘ a 36 FOOT AND CLAW OF NIGHTJAR s J : * 37 FooT oF HERON . : : ; i 3 37 Foot OF GREBE . : ‘ : ‘a 38 Foor oF CoorT j . . ‘ ‘ ; 38 FooT oF MOORHEN . . . ‘ : 38 Foot oF SWIFT . . . . . 39 Foot oF Cuckoo F . e si ° . 39 WING OF LARK : . . ‘ , . 44 HEAD OF CORN BUNTING . . 7 e : 44 PALATE OF CORN BUNTING , . > . . 45 HEAD OF SWALLOW , : . . 3 . 45 WING OF THRUSH. 7 ' . . : 45 FOOT OF CREEPER , . . . 45 HEAD OF FLYCATCHER . _ a . . 46 HEAD OF SHRIKE 5 . ‘ . . . 46 HEAD OF NUTHATCH . . . : 7 : 46 HEAD OF HEDGE SPARROW . 5 . . : 46 DORSAL FEATHER TRACTS . 3 é . : 48 VENTRAL FEATHER TRACTS . . . ; . 49 STERNUM OF CARINATE BIRD ‘ . 2 58 SCHIZOGNATHOUS SKULL OF CRANE S . . 59 /EGITHOGNATHOUS SKULL OF RAVEN 7 . . 59 DESMOGNATHOUS SKULL OF GOOSE . . . 60 TyPicaL Eccs.. . ‘ . 7 ‘ . 141 CHAPTER I. THE NAMES OF THE BIRDS, EREUNDER are the names which our country’s birds bear in this book. They have many other names, both popular and technical, and some of them have even shared several of these names amongst them ; in fact, the synonymy of ornithology is so peculiarly rich and bewildering, that the only way cf avoiding confusion would seem to be this, of beginning with definitions in the manner of Euclid, that there may be no mistake as to what we are talking about. The numbers refer to the coloured plates, and are the numbers used throughout. Alpine Accentor, 46 Accentor collaris. Auk, Great, 374 Alca impennis. Auk, Little, 378 Mergulus alle. Avocet, 304 Recurvirostra avocetta. Bee-eater, 154 Merops apiaster. Bee-eater, Blue-tailed, a Merops philippinus. Bittern, 210 Botaurus stellaris. Bittern, American, 211. Botaurus lentiginosus. Bittern, Little, 208 Ardetta minuta. Blackbird, 9 Merula vulgaris. Blackcap, 26 Sylvia atricapilla. Bluethroat, Red-spotted, 20 Cyanecula suecica. Bluethroat, White-spot- ted, 19 Cyanecula wolfi. Brambling, 96 Fringilla montifringilla. Bullfinch, ro2 Pyrrhula europza. Bunting, Black-headed, 10g Emberiza melanocephala. Bunting, Cirl, 112 Emberiza cirlus. Bunting, Corn, 110 Emberiza miliaria. Bunting, Lapland, 117 Calcarius lapponicus. Bunting, Little, 115 Emberiza pusilla. Bunting, Ortolan, 113 Emberiza hortulana. Bunting, Reed, 116 Emberiza scheeniclus. Bunting, Rustic, 114 Emberiza rustica. Bunting, Snow, 118 Plectrophanes nivalis, Bunting, Yellow, 111 Emberiza citrinella. Bustard, Great, 287 Otis tarda. Bustard, Little, 288 Otis tetrax, Bustard, Macqueen’s, 289 Otis macqueeni. Buzzard, 176 Buteo vulgaris. Buzzard, Honey, 188 Pernis apivorus. Buzzard, Rough-legged, 177 Archibuteo lagopus. Canary, Wild, 90 Serinus canarius. Capercaillie, 269 Tetrao urogallus. Chaffinch, 95 Fringilla calebs. Chiffchaff, 33 Phylloscopus rufus. Chough, 122 Pyrrhocorax graculus. Chough, Alpine, 123 Pyrrhocorax alpinus, Coot, 284 Fulica atra. Cormorant, 199 Phalacrocorax carbo. Courser,Cream-coloured, 292 Cursorius gallicus. 2 Crake, Baillon’s, 281 Crex bailloni. Crake, Vorn, 278 Crex pratensis. Crake, Little, 280 Crex parva, Crake, Spotted, 279 Crex maruetta. Crane, 285 Grus communis. Crane, Demoiselle, 256 Grus virgo. Creeper, Tree, 85 Certhia familiaris. Creeper, Wall, & Tichodroma muraria. Crossbill, 105 Loxia curvirostra. Crossbill, Parrot, 106 Loxia pityopsittacus. Crossbill, Two-barred, 108 Loxia bifasciata. Crossbill, White-winged, 107 Loxia leucoptera. Crow, Carrion, 128 Corvus corone. Crow, Hooded, 129 Corvus cornix. Cuckoo, 157 Cuculus canorus. Cuckoo, Black-billed, 160 Coccyzuserythrophthalmus. Cuckoo, Great Spotted, 158 Coccystes glandarius. Cuckoo, Yellow-billed, 159 Coccyzus americanus. Curlew, 338 Numenius arquatus. Curlew, Eskimo, 340 Numenius borealis. Curlew, Stone, 290 CEedicnemus scolopax. Dipper, 47 Cinclus aquaticus. Dipper, Black-bellied, 48 Cinclus melanogaster. Diver, Black-throated, 382 Colymbus arcticus. Diver, Great Northern, 380 Colymbus glacialis. Diver, Red-throated, 383 Colymbus septentrionalis. Diver, Yellow-billed, 381 Colymbus adamsi. Dotterel, 293 Eudromias morinellus. Dove, Ring, 263 Columba palumbus. Dove, Rock, 265 Columba livia. Dove, Stock, 264 Columba cenas. Dove, Turtle, 266 Turtur communis. Duck, Buffel-headed, 250 Clangula albeola. Duck, Harlequin, 252 Cosmonetta histrionica. Duck, Long-tailed, 251 Harelda glacialis, Duck, Ruddy Sheld, 234 Tadorna casarca. Duck, Sheld, 233 ‘Yadorna cornuta. Duck, Tufted, 247 Fuligula cristata. Duck, White-eyed, 246 Fuligula nyroca. Dunlin, 316 Tringa alpina. Eagle, Golden, 179 Aquila chrysaétus. Eagle, Sea, 180 Haliaétus aibicilla, Eagle, Spotted, 178 Aquila clanga. Egret, Little, 205 Ardea garzetta. Eider Duck, 253 Somateria mollissima. Eider, King, 254 Somateria spectabilis. Eider, Steller’s, 255 Somateria stelleri. Falcon, Greenland, 190 Falco candicans. Falcon, Gyr, 189 Falco gyrfalco. Falcon, Iceland, 191 Falco islandus. Falcon, Peregrine, 192 Falco peregrinus. Falcon, Red-footed, 195 Falco vespertinus. Fieldfare, 4 Turdus pilaris. Flamingo, 216 Phoenicopterus roseus. Flycatcher, Pied, 79 Muscicapa atricapilla. THE NAMES OF THE BIRDS. Flycatcher, Red- breasted, 80 Muscicapa parva. Flycatcher, Spotted, 78 Muscicapa grisola. Fulmar, 38 9 Fulmarus glacialis. Gadwalil, 236 Anas streperus. Gannet, 201 pula bassana, Garganey, 241 Querquedula circia. Godwit, Bar-tailed, 336 Limosa lapponica. Godwit, Black-tailed, 337 Limosa belgica. Goldeneye, 249 Clangula glaucion. Goldfinch, 87 Carduelis elegans, Goosander, 259 Mergus merganser. Goose, Barnacle, 224 Bernicla leycopsis. Goose, Bean, 218 Anser segetum. Goose, Brent, 223 Bernicla brenta. Goose, Canada, 225 Bernicla canadensis. Goose, Grey Lag, 217 Anser cinereus. Goose, Lesser White- fronted, 221 Anser erythropus. Goose, Pink-footed, 21g Anser brachyrhynchus. Goose, Red-breasted, 226 Bernicla ruficollis. Goose, Snow, 222 Anser hyperboreus. Goose, White-fronted,220 Anser albifrons, Gos Hawk, 181 Accipiter palumbarius, Gos Hawk, American, 152 Accipiter atricapillus. Grebe, Eared, 387 Podiceps nigricollis. Grebe, Great Crested, 384 Podiceps cristatus. Grebe, Little, 388 Podiceps fluviatilis. Grebe, Red-necked, 335 Podiceps griseigena. Grebe, Sclavonian, 386 Podiceps auritus. THE NAMES OF THE BIRDS. 3 Greenfinch, or Ligurinus chloris. Greenshank, 335 Totanus canescens. Grosbeak, Pine, 104 Pyrrhula enucleator. Grosbeak, Scarlet, 103 Pyrrhula erythrina. Grouse, Black, 270 Tetrao tetrix. Grouse, Pallas’s Sand,268 Syrrhaptes paradoxus. Grouse, Red, 271 Tetrao scoticus, Guillemot, 375 Uria troile. Guillemot, Black, 377 Uria grylle. Guillemot, Briinnich’s, Uria bruennichi. Gull, Black-headed, 358 Larus ridibundus. Gull, Bonaparte’s, 356 Larus philadelphia. Gull, 361 Larus canus. Gull, Glaucous, 365 Larus glaucus, Gull,Great Black-backed, Larus marinus. Gull, Great Black-headed, 360 Larus ichthyaétus. Gull, Herring, 362 Larus argentatus. Gull, Iceland, 366 Larus leucopterus. Gull, Ivory, 368 Pagophila eburnea, Gull, Lesser Black- backed, 363 Larus fuscus, Gull, Little, 357 Larus minutus. Gull, Mediterranean Black-headed, 359 Larus melanocephalus. Gull, Sabine’s, 354 Xema sabinii. Gull, Wedge-tailed, 355 Rhodostethia rosea. Harrier, Hen, 174 Circus cyaneus. Harrier, Marsh, 173 Circus zruginosus. Harrier, Montagu’s, 175 Circus cineraceus. Hawfinch, 92 . Coccothraustes vulgaris. Hemipode, Andalusian, 277 P Turnix sylvatica. Heron, 202 Ardea cinerea. Heron, Buff-backed, 206 Ardea bubulcus. Heron, Great White, 204 Ardea alba. Heron, Night, 209 Nycticorax griseus. Heron, Purple, 203 Ardea purpurea. Heron, Squacco, 207 Ardea ralloides, Hobby, 193 Falco subbuteo. Hoopoe, 156 Upupa epops, Ibis, Glossy, 215 Ibis falcinellus. Jackdaw, 127 Corvus monedula. Jay, 125 Garrulus glandarius, Kestrel, 196 Falco tinnunculus. Kestrel, Lesser, 197 Falco cenchris. Kingfisher, 151 Alcedo ispida. Kingfisher, Belted, 152 Ceryle alcyon. Kite, 184 Milvus ictinus. Kite, Black, 185 Milvus migrans. Kite, Black-winged, 187 Elanus ceruleus. Kite, Swallow-tailed, 186 Elanoides furcatus. Kittiwake, 367 Rissa tridactyla. Knot, 322 Tringa canutus, Lapwing, 301 Vanellus cristatus. Lark, Crested, 134 Alauda cristata. Lark, Shore, 137 Otocorys alpestris. Lark, Short-toed, 135 Alauda brachydactyla. Lark, Sky, 132 Alauda arvensis. Lark, White-winged, 136 Alauda sibirica, Lark, Wood, 133 Alauda arborea. Linnet, 97 Linota cannabina. Magpie, 126 Pica rustica. Mallard, 235 Anas boscas. Martin, 82 Hirundo urbica. Martin, Purple, 84 Hirundo purpurea. Martin, Sand, 83 Hirundo riparia. Merganser, Hooded, 262 Mergus cucullatus, Merganser, Red- breasted, 260 Mergus serrator. Merlin, 194 Falco zsalon. Moorhen, 283 Gallinula chloropus. Nightingale, 22 Daulias luscinia. Nightjar, 141 Caprimulgus europzcus. Nightjar, Egyptian, 143 Caprimulgus zgyptius. Nightjar, Red-necked,142 Caprimulgus ruficollis. Noddy, 353 Anous stolidus. Nutcracker, 124 Nucifraga caryocatactes. Nuthatch, 58 Sitta cesia. Oriole, Golden, 72 Oriolus galbula. Osprey, 198 Pandion haliaétus. Ouzel, Ring, 10 Merula torquatus, Owl, Barn, 161 Strix flammea. Owl, Eagle, 169 Bubo ignavus. Owl, Hawk, 166 Surnia ulula. 4 THE NAMES OF THE BIRDS. Owl, Little, 170 Athene noctua. Owl, Long-eared, 162 Asio otus. Owl, Scops, 168 Scops giu. Owl, Short-eared, 163 Asio accipitrinus. Owl, Snowy, 165 Nyctea scandiaca, Owl, Tawny, 164 Syrnium aluco. Owl, Tengmalm’s, 167 Nyctala tengmalmi. Oystercatcher, 303 Hamatopus ostralegus. Partridge, 275 Perdix cinerea, Partridge, Red-legged, 274 Perdix rufa. Petrel, Bulwer’s, 395 Bulweria columbina. Petrel, Capped, 390 Fulmarus hesitatus. Petrel, Fork-tailed, 396 Procellaria leucorrhoa, Petrel, Stormy, 397 Procellaria pelagica, Petrel, Wilson’s, 398 Oceanites oceanicus. Phalarope, Grey, 307 Phalaropus fulicarius. Phalarope, Red-necked, 306 Phalaropus hyperboreus. Pheasant, 273 Phasianus colchicus. Pigeon, Passenger, 267 Ectopistes migratorius. Pintail, 238 Dafila acuta. Pipit, Meadow, 66 Anthus pratensis. Pipit, Richard’s, 69 Anthus richardi. Pipit, Rock, 71 Anthus obscurus. Pipit, Tawny, 68 Anthus campestris. Pipit, Tree, 67 Anthus trivialis. Pipit, Water, 70 Anthus spipoletta. Plover, Eastern Golden, 295 Charadrius fulvus. Plover, Golden, 294 Charadrius pluvialis. Plover, Grey, 296 Squatarola helvetica. Plover, Kentish, 299 /Egialitis cantianus. Plover, Killdeer, 300 figialitis vociferus. Plover, Little Ringed, 298 fgialitis curonicus. Plover, Ringed, 297 /Egialitis hiaticula, Pochard, 245 Fuligula ferina. Pochard, Red-crested, 244 Fuligula rufina. Pratincole, Collared, 291 Glareola pratincola. Ptarmigan, 272 Tetrao mutus. Puffin, 379 Fratercula arctica, Quail, 276 Coturnix communis. Rail, Water, 282 Rallus aquaticus. Raven, 131 Corvus corax, Razorbill, 373 Alca torda. Redpoll, Greenland, 100 Linota hornemanni. Redpoll, Lesser, 99 Linota rufescens, Redpoll, Mealy, 98 Linota linaria. Redshank, 332 Totanus calidris. Redshank, Spotted, 333 Totanus fuscus. Redstart, 17 Ruticilla pheenicurus. Redstart, Black, 13 Ruticilla titys. Redwing, 3 Turdus iliacus, Robin, 21 Erithacus rubecula. Robin, American, 5 T.rdus migratorius, Roller, 153 Coracias garrula. Rook, 130 Corvus frugilegus. Ruff, 323 Machetes pugnax. Sanderling, 324 Calidris arenaria. Sandpiper, Bartram’s, 326 ; Bartramia longicauda. Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s, EL eee Tringa fuscicollis. Sandpiper, Broad-billed, 313 Limicola platyrhyncha. Sandpiper,Buff-breasted, 325, Tryngites rufescens. Sandpiper, Common, 327 Totanus hypoleucus. Sandpiper, Curlew, 320 ‘Tringa subarquata. Sandpiper, Green, 329 Totanus ochropus. Sandpiper, Pectoral, 314 Tringa maculata. Sandpiper, Purple, 321 Tringa maritima. Sandpiper, Solitary, 231 Totanus solitarius. Sandpiper, Spotted, 328 Totanus macularius. Sandpiper, Wood, 330 Totanus glareola, Scaup, 248 Fuligula marila, Scoter, 256 (Edemia nigra. Scoter, Surf, 258 CEdemia perspicillata. Scoter, Velvet, 257 CEdemia fusca. Serin, 89 Serinus hortulanus. Shag, 200 Phalacrocorax graculus, Shearwater, Dusky, 394 Puffinus obscurus, Shearwater, Great, 391 Puffinus major. Shearwater, Manx, 393 Puffinus anglorum. Shearwater, Sooty, 392 Puffinus griseus. Shoveller, 237 Spatula clypeata. Shrike, Great Grey, 73 Lanius excubitor. Shrike, Lesser Grey, 74 Lanius minor. Shrike, Red-backed, 75 Lanius collurio. Siskin, 838 Carduelis spinus. THE NAMES OF THE BIRDS. Skua, Arctic or Richard- son’s, 371 Stercorarius crepidatus. Skua, Great, 369 Stercorarius catarrhactes. Skua, Long-tailed or Buffon’s, 372 Stercorarius parasiticus. Skua, Pomatorhine, 370 Stercorarius pomatorhinus. Smew, 261 Mergus albellus. Snipe, 310 Gallinago coelestis. Snipe, Great, 309 Gallinago major. Snipe, Jack, 311 Gallinago gallinula. Snipe, Red-breasted, 312 Macrorhampus griseus, Sparrow Hawk, 183 Accipiter nisus. Sparrow, Hedge, 45 Accentor modularis. Sparrow, House, 93 Passer domesticus. Sparrow, Tree, 94 Passer montanus. Spoonbill, 214 Platalea leucorodia. Starling, 120 Sturnus vulgaris. Starling,Red-winged,119 Agelzus pheeniceus. Starling, Rose-coloured, 12t Pastor roseus. Stilt, Black-winged, 305 Himantopus candidus. Stint, American, 319 Tringa minutilla. Stint, Little, 317 Tringa minuta. Stint, Temminck’s, 318 Tringa temmincki. Stonechat, 16 Pratincola rubicola. Stork, Black, 213 Ciconia nigra. Stork, White, 212 Ciconia alba. Swallow, 81 Hirundo rustica, Swan, American, 230 Cygnus americanus. Swan, Bewick’s, 232 Cygnus bewicki. Swan, Hooper, 229 Cygnus musicus. Swan, Mute, 227 Cygnus olor. Swan, Polish, 228 Cygnus immutabilis. Swan, Trumpeter, 231 Cygnus buccinator, Swift, 138 Cypselus apus. Swift, Alpine, 139 Cypselus melba. Swift, Needle-tailed, 140 Acanthyllis caudacuta. Teal, 239 Querquedula crecca. Teal, American Blue- winged, 240 Querquedula discors. Tern, Arctic, 349 Sterna macrura, Tern, Caspian, 345 Sterna caspia, Tern, 348 Sterna fluviatilis. Tern, Black, 341 Hydrochelidon nigra. Tern, Gull-billed, 344 Sterna anglica. Tern, Lesser Sooty, 352 Sterna anzstheta. Tern, Little, 350 Sterna minuta. Tern, Roseate, 347 Sterna dougalli. Tern, Sandwich, 346 Sterna cantiaca. Tern, Sooty, 351 Sterna fuliginosa. Tern, Whiskered, 343 Hydrochelidon hybrida. Tern, White-winged Black, 342 Hydrochelidon leucoptera. Thrush, 2 Turdus musicus. Thrush, Black-throated,6 Turdus atrigularis, Thrush, Missel, 1 Turdus viscivorus, Thrush, Rock, 11 Monticola saxatilis. Thrush, Siberian, 8 Geocichla sibirica. Thrush, White’s, 7 Geocichla varia. Tit, Bearded, 49 Panurus biarmicus. Tit, Blue, 56 Parus cceruleus. Tit, British Coal, 54 Parus britannicus. Tit, British Long-tailed, SI Acredula rosea. Tit, Continental Coal, 53 Parus ater, Tit, Crested, 57 Parus cristatus. Tit, Great, 52 Parus major. Tit, Marsh, 55 Parus palustris. Tit, White-headed Long- tailed, so Acredula caudata. Turnstone, 302 Strepsilas interpres. Twite, tor Linota flavirostris, Vulture, Griffon, 171 Gyps fulvus. Vulture, Egyptian, 172 Neophron percnopterus. Wagtail, Blue-headed Yellow, 63 Motacilla flava. Wagtail, Grey, 62 Motacilla melanope. Wagtail, Grey-headed Yellow, 64 Motacilla viridis. Wagtail, Pied, 61 Motacilla lugubris. Wagtail, White, 60 Motacilla alba, Wagtail, Yellow, 65 Motacilla raii. Warbler, Aquatic, 41 Acrocephalus aquaticus. Warbler, Barred, 28 Sylvia nisoria. Warbler, Dartford, 29 Melizophilus undatus. Warbler, Garden, 27 Sylvia hortensis. Warbler, Grasshopper, 43 Locustella navia. Warbler, Great Reed, 40 Acrocephalus turdoides. Warbler, Icterine, 36 Hypolais icterina. Warbler, Marsh, 39 Acrocephalus palustris. Warbler, Orphean, 25 Sylvia orphea. Warbler, Reed, 38 Acrocephalus streperus, 6 THE NAMES OF THE BIRDS. Warbler, Rufous, 37 Aédon galactodes. Warbler, Savi’s, 44 Locustella luscinioides. Warbler, Sedge, 42 Acrocephalus phragmitis. Warbler, Yellow-browed, 32 Phylloscopus superciliosus. Waxwing, 77 Ampelis garrulus. Wheatear, 12 Saxicola cenanthe. Wheatear, Black- throated, 13 Sax:cola stapazina. Wheatear, Desert, 14 Saxicola deserti. Whimbrel, 339 Numenius phzopus. Whinchat, 15 Pratincola rubetra. Whitethroat, 23 Sylvia cinerea. Whitethroat, Lesser, 24 Sylvia curruca. Wigeon, 242 Mareca penelope. Wigeon, American, 243 Mareca americana. Woodchat, 76 Lanius pomeranus. Woodcock, 308 Scolopax rusticola. Woodpecker, Downy, 147 Picus pubescens. Woodpecker, Great Black, 148 Picus martius. Woodpecker, Great Spotted, 144 Picus major. Woodpecker, Green, 149 Gecinus viridis. Woodpecker, Hairy, 146 Picus villosus. Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted, 145 Picus minor. Wren, 59 Troglodytes parvulus. Wren, Fire-crested, 31 Regulus ignicapillus. Wren, Gold-crested, 30 Regulus cristatus. Wren, Willow, 34 Phylloscopus trochilus, Wren, Wood, 35 Phylloscopus sibilatrix. Wryneck, 150 Tynx torquilla. Yellowshank, 334 Totanus flavipes- CHAPTER II. LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES, — HE references in this list are not to the pages, but to the figures on the coloured plates. It will be seen that many of the names given in the preceding chapter are unfortunately borne locally by very different species, and more instances of this might have been included, as well as more names ; but the list as it is seemed to contain all that was note- worthy, and to be quite lengthy enough. Aberdevine, 88 Accentor, 46 Ailsa Parrot, 379 Alpine Accentor, 46 Alpine Chough, 123 Alpine Swift, 139 American Bittern, 211 American Blue - winged Teal, 240 Ammer Goose, 380 American Gos Hawk, 182 American Robin, 5 American Stint, 319 American Swan, 230 American Wigeon, 243 Andalusian Hemipode, 277 Annet, 361, 367 Aquatic Warbler, 41 Arctic Skua, 371 Arctic Tern, 349 Assilag, 397 Auk, 373-378 Avocet, 304 Baillon’s Crake, 281 Bald Duck, 284 Bald Goose, 220 Bald Pate, 242, 243 Bank Swallow, 73 Bardrake, 233, 260 Bar Gander, 233 Bar Goose, 224 Barker, 304 Barley Bird, 22, 361 Barnacle Goose, 224 Barn Owl, 161 Barred Warbler, 28 Barred Willow Warbler, 32 Barred Woodpecker, 145 Bar-tailed Godwit, 337 Bartram’s Sandpiper, 326 Bass Cock, 379 Bass Goose, 201 Bawkie, 373 Bay Duck, 233 Beam Bird, 79 Bean Goose, 218 Bearded Tit, 49 Beardie, 23 Bee-eater, 154 Belted Kingfisher, 152 Bernicle Goose, 224 Bewick’s Swan, 232 Bilcock, 282 Billy Biter, 56 Bittern, 210 Bittour, 210 Black-bellied Dipper, 48 Black-billed Cuckoo, 160 Blackbird, 9 Black Bonnet, 116 Black Cap, 16, 26, 55, 358 Black Cock, 270 Black Curlew, 215 Black Duck, 248, 256 Black Eagle, 179 Black Game, 270 Black Goose, 223 Black Grouse, 270 Black Guillemot, 377 Black - headed Bunting, Tog Black-headed Gull, 356 Black-headed Tit, 52 Blackie, 9 Black Kite, 185 Black Oxeye, 54 Black Poker, 247 Black Redstart, 18 Black Sandpiper, 322 Blackstart, 18 Black Stork, 213 Black Tern, 341 Black-throated Diver,382 Black-throated Thrush, 6 Black-throated Wheat- ear, 13 Black Thrush, 9 Black Wigeon, 247 Black-winged Kite, 187 Black-winged Stilt, 305 Blakeling, rrr Blethering Tam, 23 Blood Hawk, 196 Blue Back, 4 Blue Bird, 4 8 LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES, Blue Breast, 19 Blue Darr, 341 Blue Dickie, 45 Blue Dove, 265 Blue Felt, 4 Blue Gled, 174 Blue Hawk, 174, 183, 192, 194 Blue - headed Wagtail, 63 Blue Kite, 174 Blue Merlin, 183 Blue Oxeye, 56 Blue Poker, 245 Blue Rock, 264 Blue Tail, 4 Blue -tailed Bee-eater, 155 Blue Throat, 19, 20 Blue Tit, 56 Blue Yaup, 56 Bohemian Chatterer, 77 Bonaparte’s Gull, 356 Bonaparte’s Sandpiper, 315 Bonxie, 369 Bottlenose, 379 Bottle Tit, 51 Brambling, 96 Bran Tail, 17 Brent Goose, 223 British Coal Tit, 54 British Long-tailed Tit, 5I Broad Bill, 237 Broad-billed Sandpiper, 313 Brook Ouzel, 282 Brown Hen, fem. of 270 Brown Owl, 164 Brown Woodpecker, 85 Briinnich’s Guillemot, 376 Buff-backed Heron, 206 Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Yellow 325 Buffel-headed Duck, 250 Buffon’s Skua, 372 Bullfinch, 102 Bull Thrush, 1 Bulwer’s Petrel, 395 Bumble, 210 Bundie, 316, 327 Bunting, 110 Burgomaster, 365 Burrow Duck, 233 Bush Chat, 12 Bush Dove, 264 Bush Quail, 277 Bustard, 287 Butcher Bird, 73, 75 Buzzard, 176 Cackareen, 367 Caloo, 251 Canada Goose, 225 Capercaillie, 269 Canary, 90 Capped Buzzard, 188 Capped Petrel, 390 Carrion Crow, 128 Car Swallow, 341 Caspian Tern, 345 Cat Gull, 362 Chaffinch, 95 Chalder, 303 Channel Goose, 201 Chatterpie, 126 Cheeper, 66 Cherry Finch, 92 Cherubim, 161 Chickell, r2 Chiffchaff, 33 Chink, 116 Chip Chop, 33 Chough, 122 Church Owl, 161 Churn Owl, 141 Churr, 23, 316 Cirl Bunting, 112 Claik, 224 Clatter Goose, 223 Cliff Hawk, 192 Clinker, 304 Clod Bird, 110 Coal Goose, 199 Coal Hoodie, 26 Cobbler’s Awl, 303 Coble, 92 Cobweb, 78 Cockandy, 379 Cock of the Wood, 269 Cock o’ the North, 96 Coldie, 251 Cole Finch, 79 Collared Pratincole, 291 Coney Chuck, 12 Continental Coal Tit, 53 Coot, 284 Copper Finch, 95 Corbie, 128, 131 Cormorant, 199 Corn Bunting, 110 Corn Crake, 278 Cornish Crow, 122 Courser, 292 Cow Bird, 65, 159 Cowprise, 263 Crake, 278 Crane, 285 Cream-coloured Courser, 292 Creck, 278 Creeper, 85 Creshawk, 196 Crested Cormorant, 200 Crested Lark, 134 Crested Tit, 57 Cricket Bird, 43 Crocker, 223 Crossbill, 105 Crow, 128 Cuckoo, 157 Cuckoo’s Mate, rso Culver, 263 Curlew, 338 Curlew Sandpiper, 320 Curre, 249 Cushat, 263, 264 Cushiedoo, 263 Dabber, 388 Dabchick, 283, 388 Daker, 278 Dalmatian Regulus, 32 Dalmatian Wren, 32 Darcall, 251 Darcock, 282 Dartford Warbler, 29 Daw, 127 Demoiselle Crane, 286 Desert Wheatear, 14 LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES. 9 Diedapper, 388 Dipper, 47, 151 Dishwasher, 61 Diver, 380-383 Diving Pigeon, 377 Doo, 263 Dorbie, 316 Dor Hawk, 141 Dot Plover, 293 Dotterel, 293 Double Snipe, 309 Dove, 263, 264, 265, 266 Downy Woodpecker, 147 Duck, 235 Dun Bird, 245, 248 Dunlin, 316 Dunne, 322 Dunnock, 45 Dusky Duck, 253 Dusky Redshank, 333 Dusky Shearwater, 394 Eagle, 178, 179, 180 Eagle Owl, 169 Eared Grebe, 387 Eastern Golden Plover, 295 Eider Duck, 253 Egret, 204 Egyptian Nightjar, 143 Egyptian Vulture, 172 Elk, 229 Ember Goose, 380 Erne, 180 Eskimo Curlew, 340 Falcon, 192 allow Finch, 12 Fallowsnatch, 12 Fauvette, 27 Feather Poke, 51 Felfer, 4 Felfit, 1 Feltie, 1 Fen Goose, 217 Fen Thrush, 1 Fern Owl, 141 Ferruginous Duck, 246 Fieldfare, 4 Field Sparrow, 45 Fire Crest, 31 Fire-crested Wren, 31 Fire Tail, 17 Fish Hawk, 198 Flamingo, 216 Flesher, 75 Flitterchack, ro Flycatcher, 78, 79, 80 Fork Tail, 184 Fork-tailed Petrel, 396 Frank, 201 French Magpie, 75 French Partridge, 274 Frosty Back Wigeon, 248 Fulfer, i . Fulmar, 389 Furze Chat, 15 Gadwall, 236 Game Hawk, 192 Gan, 201 Gannet, 201 Garden Ouzel, 9 Garden Warbler, 27 Garganey, 241 Gaunt, 384 Gaverhale, 311 Gaw Thrush, 1 Glaucous Gull, 365 Glead, 176, 184 Glossy Ibis, 215 Goatsucker, 141 Godwin, 336 Godwit, 336, 337 Gold Crest, 30 Gold-crested Wren, 30 Golden Eagle, 179 Goldeneye, 249 Golden Oriole, 72 Golden Plover, 294 Goldfinch, 87 Goldie, 11 Goosander, 259 Goose, 217 Gorcock, 271 Gor Crow, 128 Gorse Chat, 15 Gorse Hopper, 15 Gorse Linnet, 97 Gos Hawk, 181 Gowdy Duck, 249 B Gowk, 157 Grasshopper Lark, 43 Grasshopper Warbler, 43 Great Auk, 374 Great Black-backed Gull, 364 Great BlackWoodpecker, 148 Great Bustard, 287 Greater Pettychaps, 27 Greater Plover, 335 Great Crested Grebe, 384 Great Grey Shrike, 73 Great Northern Diver, 380 Great Plover, 290 Great Reed Warbler, 4o Great Shearwater, 391 Great Skua, 369 Great Snipe, 309 Great Spotted Cuckoo, 158 Great Spotted Wood- pecker, 144 Great Tit, 52 Great White Egret, 204 Great White Heron, 204 Grebe, 384 Green Cormorant, 200 Greenfinch, 91 Greenland Falcon, 190 Greenland Redpoll, 160 Green Linnet, 91 Green Plover, 301 Green Sandpiper, 329 Greenshank, 335 Green Woodpecker, 149 Green Wren, 35 Grey Crow, 129 Grey Duck, 235, 236 Grey Goose, 217 Grey Gull, 363 Grey-headed Wagtail, 64 Grey Hen, fem. of 270 Grey Lag Goose, 217 Grey Linnet, 101 Grey Loon, 384 Grey Partridge, 275 Grey Pate, 87 Grey Phalarope, 301 Yellow to LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES. Grey Plover, 294, 296, 322 Grey Ptarmigan, 272 Grey Redstart, 18 Grey Skit, 282 Grey Thrush, 4 Grey Wagtail, 62 Griffon Vulture, 171 Grosbeak, 104 Ground Wren, 34 Grouse, 271 Guillemot, 375 Gull, 361 Gull-billed Tern, 344 Gyp, 120 Gyr Falcon, 189 Hackbolt, 391 Hacket, 367 Hagdown, 391 Hairy Woodpecker, 146 Half Duck, 242 Half Snipe, 311 Harlequin Duck, 252 Harrier, 174 Hawfinch, 92 Hawk Owl, 163, 166 Hay Bird, 34, 35 Hay Tit, 23 Hazel Linnet, 24 Heath Cock, 270 Heath Fowl, 270 Heath Throstle, 10 Heather Bleater, 310 Heather Lintie, 66 Heather Peeper, 327 Heckymal, 52, 56 Hedge Accentor, 45 Hedge Sparrow, 45 Hedge Warbler, 45 Hemipode, 277 Hen Harrier, 174 Herald, 260 Herdsman, 369 Hernshaw, 202 Heron, 202 Herring Gant, zor Herring Gull, 362 Herring Spink, 30 Hill Chack, 10 Hill Lintie, ro Hill Plover, 294 Hill Sparrow, 66 Hobby, 193 Hoddy Craw, 128 Holm Screech, 1 Holm Thrush, 1 Honey Buzzard, 188 Hooded Crow, 129 Hooded Merganser, 262 Hooded Mew, 358 Hoodie, 129 Hooper Swan, 229 Hoopoe, 156 Horned Grebe, 386 Horned Owl, 162 Horse Thrush, 1 House Martin, 82 House Sparrow, 93 Hover Hawk, 196 Howster, 322 Ibis, 215 Iceland Falcon, 191 Iceland Gull, 366 Icterine Warbler, 36 Imber, 380 Isle of Wight Parson, 199 Ivory Gull, 368 Jack, 127 Jackdaw, 127 Jacksaw, 259 Jack Snipe, 311, 316 Jack Straw, 23, 26 Jadreka Snipe, 290 Jager, 369 Jay, 125 Jay Pie, 1 Jay Teal, 239 Jedcock, 311 Jenny Wren, 56, 59 Jer Cock, 1 Jer Falcon, 189 Jill Snipe, 310 Judcock, 315 Juddock, 311 Keltie, 367 Kentish Plover, 299 Kestrel, 196 Killdeer Plover, 300 King Eider, 254 Kingfisher, 47, 151 Kinglet, 30 Kite, 184, 196 Kittiwake, 367 Kitty Carew, 393 Knot, 322 Land Rail, 278 Lapland Bunting, 117 Lapwing, 301 Lark, 132 Laughing Goose, 220 Laughing Gull, 358, 362 Laverock, 132 Lesser Black - backed Gull, 363 Lesser Golden Plover, 295 Lesser Grey Shrike, 74 Lesser Kestrel, 197 Lesser Pettychaps, 33 Lesser Redpoll, 99 Lesser Sooty Tern, 352 Lesser Spotted Woor- pecker, 145 Lesser White - fronted Goose, 221 Lesser Whitethroat, 24 Ling Bird, 66 Links Goose, 233 Linnet, 97 Lintie, 97 Little Auk, 378 Little Bittern, 2c8 Little Bunting, 115 Little Bustard, 288 Little Crake, 280 Little Egret, 205 Little Grebe, 388 Little Gull, 357 Little Owl, 170 Little Ringed Plover, 298 Little Stint, 317 Little Tern, 350 Liver, 215 Long-eared Owl, 162 Long Tail, so Long-tailed Skua, 372 Long-tailed Duck, 251 Long-tailed Pie, 51 LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES. II Loon, 380, 381, 382, 383 Lyrie, 393 Macqueen’s Bustard, 289 Magpie, 126 Magpie Diver, 261 Mallard, 235 Man o’ war Bird, 371 Manx Shearwater, 393 Marble Thrush, 1 Market Jew Crow, 122 Marsh Goose, 217 Marsh Harrier, 173 Marsh Hawk, 173 Marsh Hen, 283 Marsh Tit, 55 Marsh Warbler, 39 Martin, 82 Martlet, 82 Marygold Finch, 30 Mavis, z Meadow Drake, 278 Meadow Lark, 66 Meadow Pipit, 66 Mealy Mouth, 34 Mealy Redpoll, 98 Mediterranean Black- headed Guill, 359 Merganser, 262 Merle, 9 Merlin, 194 Miller, 174 Miller’s Thumb, 30, 34 Missel Thrush, 1 Mistletoe Thrush, 1 Mizzly Dick, 1 Mock Nightingale, 26 Mollymoke, 391 Montagu’s Harrier, 175 Moor Buzzard, 173 Moorcock, 271 Moor Fowl, 271 Moor Game, 271 Moor Hawk, 173 Moorhen, 271, 283 Moor Titling, 16, 66 Morillon, 249 Moss Cheaper, 66 Moss Duck, 235 Moth Hawk, 141 Mother Carey’s Chicken, 397 Mountain Blackbird, 10 Mountain Finch, 96 Mountain Linnet, 101 Mud Plover, 296 Muff, 23 Muftie, 23 Muir Duck, 235 Mullet Hawk, 198 Murre, 373 Mussel Duck, 248 Mussel Pecker, 303 Mute Swan, 227 Needle-tailed Swift, 140 Nettle Creeper, 23, 26 Nettlemonger, 26 Night Churr, 141 Night Hawk, 141 Night Heron, 209 Nightingale, 22 Nightjar, 141 Noddy, 353 Norfolk Plover, zg0 Norman Thrush, 1 Norway Duck, 248 Norway Nightingale, 3 Nutcracker, 58, 124 Nuthatch, 58 Nutjobber, 58 Orange -legged Hobby, 195 Oriole, 72 Orphean Warbler, 25 Ortolan Bunting, 113 Osprey, 198 Ouzel, 9 Owl, 161 Oxbird, 316 Oxeye, 52 Oystercatcher, 303 Oyster Plover, 303 Pallas’s Sand Grouse, 268 Parrot Crossbill, 106 Parson Gull, 364 Partridge, 275 Passenger Pigeon, 257 Peaseweep, 301 Pectoral Sandpiper, 314 B2 Peewlt, 301 Peggy Chaw, 23 Petrel, 397 Phalarope, 306, 307 Pheasant, 273 Picarini, 304 Pickerel, 316 Pie, 126 Pied Finch, 95 Pied Flycatcher, 79 Pied Wagtail, 61 Pied Wigeon, 241 Piet, 47 126 Piewipe, 301 Pigeon, 263, 264, 265 Pigeon Felt, 4 Pigeon Hawk, 183 Pigmy, 320 Pigmy Curlew, 320 Pine Grosbeak, 104 Pink, 95 Pink-footed Goose, 219 Pintail, 238 Pipit, 66 to 71 Pipit Lark, 67 Pit Martin, 83 Plover, 296 Plover’s Page, 316 Pochard, 245 Poker, 245 Polish Swan, 228 Pomarine Skua, 370 Pomatorhine Skua, 370 Pool Snipe, 332 Popinjay, 149 Pratincole, 291 Ptarmigan, 272 Puckeridge, 141 Puffin, 379 Purple Heron, 203 Purple Martin, 84 Purple Sandpiper, 321 Purre, 316 Puttock, 173, 176 Pye Finch, 95 Quail, 276 Quaketail, 61 Queest, 263 Quink Goose, 223 12 LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES. Rafter Bird, 78 Rail, 282 Rain Goose, 383 Rantock, 259 Rat Goose, 223 Rattlewing, 249 Raven, 131 Razorbill, 373 Red-backed Shrike, 75 Redbreast, 21 Red-breasted Flycatcher, Oo Red-breasted Goose, 226 Red-breasted Mergan- ser, 260 Red-breasted Snipe, 312 Red Cap, 87 Red-crested Pochard, 244 Red-footed Falcon, 195 Red Godwit, 337 Red Grouse, 271 Red Hawk, 196 Red Hoop, 192 Red-legged Partridge, 274 Red Legs, 321 Red-necked Grebe, 385 Red-necked Nightjar, 142 Red-necked Phalarope, 306 Red Owl, 163 Redpoll, 98, 100 Red Ptarmigan, 271 Red Sandpiper, 322 Redshank, 4, 332 Red-spotted Bluethroat, 20 Redstart, 17 Red Tail, 17 Red-throated Diver, 383 Red Thrush, 3 Redwing, 3 Red-winged Starling,119 Reed Bunting, 49, 116 Reed Pheasant, 49 Reed Sparrow, 116 Reed Warbler, 38 Reed Wren, 38 Reeler, 43 Reeve, fem. of 323 Richard's Pipit, 69 Richardson’s Skua, 371 Ring Dotterel, 297 Ring Dove, 263 Ringed Blackbird, 10 Ringed Dotterel, 297 Ringed Guillemot, 376 Ringed Plover, 297 Ringed Thrush, 10 Ringlestone, 297 Ring Ouzel, 10 Ringtail, 174a Ring-tailed Eagle, 179 Road Goose, 223 Robin, 21 Rock Dove, 265 Rock Grouse, 272 Rock Hawk, 194 Rock Lark, 71 Rock Lintie, 101 Rock Ouzel, 10 Rock Pigeon, 265 Rock Pipit, 71 Rock Starling, 10 Rock Thrush, 11 Rodge, 236 Roller, 153 Rook, 130 Roseate Tern, 347 Rose-coloured Starling, I2I Rose Linnet, 97 Rose Lintie, 99 Rough-legged Buzzard, 177 Royston Crow, 129 Ruddock, 21 Ruddy Sheldrake, 234 Ruddy Sheld Duck, 234 Ruff, 323 Rufous Warbler, 37 Rustic Bunting, 114 Sabine’s Gull, 354 Saddleback, 364 St. Cuthbert’s Duck, 253 St. George’s Duck, 233 Sanderling, 324 Sand Lark, 324, 327 Sand Martin, 83 Sandpiper, 327 Sandwich Tern, 346 Sand Wigeon, 236 Sandyhead, 245 Savi’s Warbler, 44 Sawbill, 259 Sawneb, 260 Scammel, 336 Scarlet Grosbeak, 103 Scart, 199, 200 Scaup, 248 Sclavonian Grebe, 386 Scobby, 95 Scooper, 304 Scops Owl, 168 Scoter, 256 Screamer, 138 Screech Hawk, 141 Screech Owl, 161, 164 Screech Thrush, 1 Scull, 369 Scutty, 59 Sea Crow, 199 Sea Dotterel, 302 Sea Eagle, 180 Sea Kittie, 367 Sea Lark, 297, 316 Sea Lintie, 71 Sea Mew, 361 Sea Parrot, 379 Sea Peck, 316 Sea Pheasant, 238 Sea Pie, 303 Sea Pigeon, 265 Sea Plover, 296 Sea Snipe, 316, 322 Sea Swallow, 348 Sea Woodcock, 336 Sedge Warbler, 42 Sedge Wren, 42 Serin, 89 Serula, 260 Seven Whistler, 339 Shag, 200 Shearwater, 391 Sheldrake 233 Sheld Duck, 233 Shieldrake, 233 Shore Lark, 137 Shore Fipit, 71 Short-eared Owl, 163 Short-toed Lark, 135 LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES. 13 Shovelard, 237 Shoveller, 237 Shrike, 73-76 Shrite, 1 Shufflewing, 45 Siberian Thrush, 8 Silver Owl, 161 Silver Plover, 322 Silvery Gull, 362 Singing Titlark, 67 Siskin, 88 Skeldrake, 233 Skirlcock, Skirl Crake, 302 Skite, 111 Skitty, 232 Skua, 369-372 Skylark, 132 Sly Goose, 233 Smee Duck, 242, 245, 261 Smew, 261 Snake Bird, t50 Snippack, 310 Snipe, 310 Snorter, 12 Snow Bunting, 118 Snowflake, 118 Snow Goose, 222 Snowy Owl, 165 Solan Goose, 201 Solitary Sandpiper, 331 Solitary Snipe, 309 Song Thrush, 2 Sooty Shearwater, 392 Sooty Tern, 351 Sparrow, 93 Sparrow Hawk, 183 Sparve, 45 Spectacled Goose, 201 Spoonbill, 214, 237 Spotted Crake, 279 Spotted Eagle, 178 Spotted Flycatcher, 78 Spotted Guillemot, 377 Spotted Redshank, 333 Spotted Sandpiper, 328 Sprite, 149 Squacco Heron, 207 Stanepecker, 302, 321 Stank Hen, 283 Stannel Hawk, 196 Starling, 120 Steller’s Eider, 255 Stilt, 305 Stock Annet, 233 Stock Dove, 264 Stock Duck, 235 Stock Hawk, 192 Stock Owl, 169 Stonechat, 12, 16 Stone Curlew, 290 Stone Falcon, 194 Stonehatch, 297 Stone Plover, 290, 297 Stone Runner, 293, 297 Stonesmith, 16 Stone Thrush, 1 Stork, 212 Storm Cock, 1, 4 Storm Petrel, 397 Stormy Petrel, 397 Strawsmear, 27, 34 Stubble Goose, 217 Summer Snipe, 316, 327) 329 Summer Teal, 241 Surf Duck, 256 Surf Scoter, 258 Swallow, 81 Swallow-tailed Kite, 186 Swan, 227 Swift, 138 Tangle Picker, 302 Tarrock, 349 Tatler, 327 Tawny Owl, 164 Tawny Pipit, 68 Teal, 239 Teaser, 369, 370, 371, 372 Temminck’s Stint, 318 Tengmalm’s Owl, 167 Tern, 348 Thicknee, 290 Thistle Finch, 87 Three-toed Sand Grouse, 268 Throstle Cock, 1 Thrush, 2 Tinkershire, 375 Tinnock, 56 Titlark, 66 Titmouse, same as Tit Titterel, 339 Tom Tit, 56, 59 Tom Noddy, 379 Tor Ouzel, to Tree Creeper, 85 Tree Goose, 224 Tree Lark, 67 Tree Pipit, 67 Tree Sparrow, 94 Trumpeter Swan, 231 Tufted Duck, 247 Turnstone, 302 Turtle Dove, 266 Twink, 95 Twite, ror Two-barred Crossbill, 108 Tystie, 377 Van-winged Hawk, 193 Velvet Duck, 257 Velvet Scoter, 257 Vulture, 171, 172 Wagtail, 60-65 Wall Bird, 78 Wall Creeper, 86 Warbler, 27 Ware Goose, 223 Water Crake, 47, 279 Water Crow, 47 Water Eagle, 198 Waterhen, 283 Water Ouzel, 47, 48 Water Pipit, 70 Water Rail, 282, 283 Water Sparrow, 38, 116 Water Wagtail, 61 Waxwing, 77 Wedge-tailed Gull, 355 Whaup, 338 Wheatear, 12 Wheeter Why, 23 Whewer, 242 Whey Beard, 23 Whilk, 256 Whim, 242 Whimbrel, 339 14 LOCAL AND POPULAR NAMES. Whinchat, 15 Whiskered Tern, 343 Whistler, 242, 249 Whistling Plover, 294, 296 Whistling Swan, 229 White-billed Diver, 381 White - breasted Black- pird, 10 White Cap, 17, 23 White-eyed Duck, 246 White Finch, 95 White-fronted Goose, 220 White Game, 272 White Grouse, 272 White - headed Long - tailed Tit, 50 White Lintie, 23 White Partridge, 272 White Rump, 12 Whiteside, 249 White - spotted throat, 19 White Stork, 212 White-tailed Eagle, 180 Whitethroat, 23 White’s Thrush, 7 White’s Ground Thrush, 7 White Wagtail, 60 Whitewing, 95 White - winged Black Tern, 342 White-winged Crossbill, 107 Blue- White-winged Lark, 136 Whitterick, 338 Whole Snipe, 310 Whooper Swan, 229 Wigeon, 242 Wigeon Leader, 238 Wild Canary, 90 Wild Duck, 235 Wild Goose, 217, 218 Wild Pigeon, 265 Wild Swan, 229 Willow Wren, 34 Willock, 375 Wilson’s Petrel, 398 Wind Fanner, 196 Windhover, 196 Windle, 3 Window Swallow, 82 Wind Thrush, 3 Winnard, 3 Winter Duck, 238 Winter Mew, 361 Winter Wagtail, 62 Woodchat, 76 Woodchuck, 149 Woodcock, 308 Woodcock Owl, 163 Wood Dove, 264 Wood Grouse, 269 Wood Lark, 133 Wood Owl, 164 Woodpecker, 144, 145 Wood Pigeon, 263 Wood Quest, 263 Wood Sandpiper, 330 Wood Thrush, 1 Woodwall, 144 Wood Warbler, 35 Wood Wren, 35 Woosel Cock, 9 Wrannock, 59 Wranny, 59 Wrekin Dove. 266 Wren, 59 Wryneck, 150 Yaffle, 149 Yarwhelp, 336 Yeldrin, rrr Yellow Ammer, 111 cir ial Chiff Chaff, 3 Yellow - billed Cuckoo, 159 Yellow-billed Diver, 38: Yellow-browed Warbler, 32 Yellow-browed Wren, 32 Yellow Bunting, 111 Yellowhammer, 111 Yellow Owl, 161 Yellow Plover, 294 Yellowshank, 334 Yellow Wagtail, 62, 65 Yellow Yite, 111 Yelper, 304 NOTE—The following names are occasionally met with :— Alexandrine Plover, 299 Banjo Bill, 214 Black-toed Gull, 371 Blood Ulf, 102 Boatswain, 370 Bottle Bumper, 210 Cadder, 127 Draw Water, 87 French Linnet, 1oz Grey Back, 248 Guler, 111 Half Curlew, 339 Kentish Crow, 129 King Harry, 87 Penny Wagtail, 6: Scotch Goose, 223 Scoulton Gull, 358 Snowman, 111 Spink, 95 Sprat Loon, 383 Weasel Duck, 261 CHAPTER III. THE COLOURED PLATES, eK ae following is a complete list of the birds figured in our coloured plates. The species are arranged in ornithological order, so as to show the system of grouping adopted as being most convenient for the purposes of identification. The names of those birds not yet on record as breeding in this country appear with a wider margin than the rest. The dimensions of all will be found given in tabular form in the twelfth chapter; the eggs are tabulated in the thirteenth chapter. PASSERIDA. Turdine, Plate L 1, TURDUS VISCIVORUS—Missel Thrush, p, 128, Dimensions, Jj; Eggs, Hy. » TURDUS MUSICUS—Song Thrush, pf. 128. Dimensions, Hi; Eggs, Ge. 3. TURDUS ILIACUS—Redwing, p. 128. Dimensions, Gq; Eggs, FJ 4. TURDUS PILARIS—Fieldfare, p. 128. Dimensions, Jc; Eggs, Hn. un 5 TURDUS MIGRATORIUS—American Robin, p. 128, Dimensions, lo. 6. TURDUS ATRIGULARIS—Black-throated Thrush, fp. 128, Dimensions, Jl; Eggs, Gs. n GEOCICHLA VARIA—White’s Thrush, /.99. Dimensions, Kk; Eggs, HB. 8. GEOCICHLA SIBIRICA—Siberian Thrush, p. 99. Dimensions, Hq. 9: MERULA VULGARIS—Blackbird, #. 108. Dimensions, Im; Eggs, ‘Gu Io. MERULA TORQUATA—Ring Ouzel, p. 108. Dimensions, Jk; Eggs, Gr II. MONTICOLA SAXATILIS—Rock Thrush, p. 108. Dimensions, Gs; Eggs, Ga Plate I, iz, GAXICOLA GENANTHE—Wheatear, #. 120. Dimensions, Ef; Eggs, Dx 13. SAXICOLA STAPAZINA—Black-throated Wheatear, p. 120. Dimensions, Cj; Eggs, Du 14. SAXICOLA DESERTI—Desert Wheatear, p. 120, Dimensions, Dl; Eggs, Br. 15. PRATINCOLA RUBETRA—Whinchat, p. 117. Dimensions, Bb ; Eggs, Bg. 16, PRATINCOLA RUBICOLA—Stonechat, p. 117. Dimensions, Bi; Eggs, Cu. 17, RUTICILLA PHONICURUS—Redstart, £. 120, Dimensions, Cg; Eggs, Bs 1B RUTICILLA TITYS—Black Redstart, p. 120. Dimensions, Cs; Eggs, D1. 36 COLOURED PLATES. Piate II,—continued. 19. CYANECULA WOLFI—White-spotted Bluethroat, £. 92. Dimensions, Cd; Eggs, CM. 20, CYANECULA SUECICA—Red-spotted Bluethroat, p. 92. Dimensions, Cc; Eggs, Bo. Prwxet '6/z $01 ERITHACUS RUBECULA—Robin, . 95. Plate IIL Plate Iv. Dimensions, Cp; Eggs, De. a2. DAULIAS LUSCINIA—Nightingale, p. 93 Dimensions, Ea; Eggs, Ec. 23. SYLVIA CINEREA—Whitethroat, p. 124. Dimensions, Bs; Eggs, Ce. 24. SYLVIA CURRUCA—Lesser Whitethroat, p, 1246 Dimensions, Bh; Eggs, Al. 25. SYLVIA ORPHEA—Orphean Warbler, p. 124, Dimensions, Dq; Eggs, Dz. 26. SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA—Blackcap, p. 124. Dimensions, Cq; Eggs, DJ. 27, SYLVIA HORTENSIS—Garden Warbler, p. 124. Dimensions, Ca; Eggs. Dn. 28, SYLVIA NISORIA—Barred Warbler, p, 124, Dimensions, Eb; Eggs, Ex 29. MELIZOPHILUS UNDATUS—Dartford Warbler, . 107. Dimensions, As; Eggs, Br. 30. REGULUS CRISTATUS—Gold-crested Wren, p. 119. Dimensions, Aa; Eggs, AA. 31. REGULUS IGNICAPILLUS—Fire-crested Wren, p, 119. Dimensions, Ac; Eggs, AB. 32 PHYLLOSCOPUS SUPERCILIOSUS — Yellow - browed Warbler, p. 115. Dimensions, Ad; Eggs, Ac. 33. PHYLLOSCOPUS RUFUS—Chiffchaff, p, 115. Dimensions, Ao; Eggs, AD. 34. PHYLLOSCOPUS TROCHILUS—Willow Wren, p. 115. Dimensions, At; Eggs, Au. 35. PHYLLOSCOPUS SIBILATRIX—Wood Wren, . 115. Dimensions, Bj; Eggs, At. 36. HYPOLAIS ICTERINA~—Icterine Warbler, p. ror. ., Dimensions, Be; Eggs, Cp 37. AEDON GALACTODES—Rufous Warbler, p. 77. Dimensions, Ep ; Eggs, Er. 38. ACROCEPHALUS STREPERUS—Reed Warbler, p. 76. Dimensions, Bp ; Eggs, Bp. 39. ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS—Marsh Warbler, p. 76. Dimensions, Bq; Eggs, Ca. 4o. ACROCEPHALUS TURDOIDES —Great Reed Warbler, p. 76. Dimensions, Gn; Eggs, Ep. 4. ACROCEPHALUS AQUATICUS—Aquatic Warbler, p. 76. Dimensions, Ah; Eggs, Ba. 42. ACROCEPHALUS PHRAGMITIS—Sedge Warbler, p. 76. Dimensions, Ap; Eges, Ba. 43. LOCUSTELLA NAVIA—Grasshopper Warbler, p. 105, Dimensions, Co; Eggs, Bo. 44. LOCUSTELLA LUSCINIOIDES—Savi's Warbler, p. 105. Dumensions, Bt.; Eggs, CQ. Accentorine. 45. ACCENTOR MODULARIS—Hedge Sparrow, #. 75. Dimensions, Br; Eggs, Da. 46. ACCENTOR COLLARIS—Alpine Accentor, p. 75. mes Dimensions, El; Eggs, Fe. Cincling. 47. CINCLUS AQUATICUS—Dipper, #. 87. Dimensions, Fb; Eggs, Fo. 48. CINCLUS MELANOGASTER—Black-bellied Dipper, p. 87 Dimensions, Fc; Eggs, Fr. Panurine. 49. PANURUS BIARMICUS—Bearded Tit, p. 112. Dimensions, De; Eggs, Bu. COLOURED PLATES. 17 Pate IV.—continued. Plate V. Plate VI. Parine. t 50. ACREDULA CAUDATA--White-headed Long-tailed Tit, p. 76. Dimensions, Bo; Eggs, Ar. 51. ACREDULA ROSEA—British Long-tailed Tit, p 76. Dimensions, Bn; Eggs, Ac. 52. PARUS MAJOR—Great Tit, p. 112. imensions, Bm; Eggs, BK. 52 PARUS ATER —Continental Coal Tit, p. 112, Dimensions, Ae; Eggs, Be. 54. PARUS BRITANNICUS—British Coal Tit, p. 112, Dimensions, Af; Eggs, Ba. 55. PARUS PALUSTRIS—Marsh Tit, p. 112. Dimensions, Aj; Eggs, Aj. 56. PARUS CERULEUS—Blue Tit, p. 112. Dimensions, Ai; Eggs, Az. 57, PARUS CRISTATUS- Crested Tit, p. 112. Dimensions, Ag; Eggs, Ag. Sitting. 58. SITTA C#SiA—Nuthatch, #. r2r, Dimensions, Ch; Eggs, Co. Troglodyting 59. TROGLODYTES PARVULUS—Wren, #. 128. co Dimensions, Ab; Eggs, B1. Motacilline. 60. MOTACILLA ALBA—White Wagtail, . 108. Dimensions, Fq; Eggs, Du. 61. MOTACILLA LUGUBRIS—Pied Wagtail, p, 108, Dimensions, Ga; Eggs, Dp. 62. MOTACILLA MELANOPE—Grey Wagtail, p. 108. Dimensions, Gm; Eggs, Cr. 63. MOTACILLA FLAVA—Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail, p. 108. Dimensions, Dj; Eggs, Cn. 64. MOTACILLA VIRIDIS—Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail, p. 108, Dimensions, Dt; Eggs, C1. 65. MOTACILLA RAII—Yellow Wagtail, p. 108. Dimensions, Ei; Eggs, C1. 66. ANTHUS PRATENSIS—Meadow Pipit, p. 81. Dimensions, Da; Eggs, DM. 67. ANTHUS TRIVIALIS—Tree Pipit, p. 81. Dimensions, Dk; Eggs, Es. 68. ANTHUS CAMPESTRIS—Tawny Pipit, p. 81 Dimensions, Ff; Eggs, En. 69. ANTHUS RICHARDI-—Richard’s Pipit, p, 81. Dimensions, Gc; Eggs, En. 70. ANTHUS SPIPOLETTA—Water Pipit, 9. 81. Dimensions, Ek; Eggs, Ex. gx. ANTHUS OBSCURUS—Rock Pipit, p. 81. Dimensions, Ee; Eggs, Er. Oriolina. gz, ORIOLUS GALBULA—Golden Oriole, p. 113. Dimensions, Ib; Eggs, Hc. Laniine. 73. LANIUS EXCUBITOR—Great Grey Shrike, #. 102. Dimensions, Ig; Eggs, Gu. 74. LANIUS MINOR—Lesser Grey Shrike, p. 102, Dimensions, Hh; Eggs, Fm 75. LANIUS COLLURIO—Red-backed Shrike, p. 102, Dimensions, GB; Eggs, Eo. 76. LANIUS POMERANUS—Woodchat, p. 102. Dimensions, Fg ; Eggs, Et. Ampeline. 77. AMPELIS GARRULUS—Waxrwing, p. 79. 2 Dimensions, Gu; Eggs, Fi. 18 COLOURED PLATES. PLateE VI.-—continued, Plate VII. Piate VIII. Muscicapine. 78. MUSCICAPA GRISOLA—Spotted Flycatcher, £. 109. Dimensions, Bl; Eggs, Br. 79. MUSCICAPA ATRICAPILLA—Pied Flycatcher, p. 109. Dimensions, Bc; Eggs, Cc. 80, MUSCICAPA PARVA—Red-breasted Flycatcher, p. 109. Dimensions, Ar; Eggs, AN. Hirundinina. 81. HIRUNDO RUSTICA—Swallow, p. 100, Dimensions, Gf; Eggs, Cr. 82. HIRUNDO URBICA—Martin, #. 100, Dimensions, Cm; Eggs, Br." 83. HIRUNDO RIPARIA—Sand Martin, p. 100. Dimensions, Bg; Eggs, Bu. 84. HIRUNDO PURPUREA—Purple Martin, p. roo. Dimensions, Es; Eggs, Fr Certhiine. 85. CERTHIA FAMILIARIS—Tree Creeper, #. 86. Dimensions, Cb’; Eggs, As. 86. TICHODROMA MURARIA—Wall Creeper, p. 126. . Dimensions, Em; Eggs, CJ. Fringilline. 87. CARDUELIS ELEGANS—Goldfinch, p. 85. Dimensions, Bf; Eggs. AR. 88. CARDUELIS SPINUS—Siskin, p. 85. Dimensions, An; Eggs, AP. &s. SERINUS HORTULANUS—Serin, . 121. Dimensions, Am; Eggs, Ao. go. SERINUS CANARIUS—Wild Canary, #, 121. Dimensions, Al; Eggs, Ci. gt} LIGURINUS CHLORIS—Greenfinch, p. 104. Dimensions, Dm; Eggs, DF. gz. COCCOTHRAUSTES VULGARIS—Hawfinch, p. 88. Dimensions, Fe; Eggs, Fs. 93) PASSER DOMESTICUS—House Sparrow, p. 113. Dimensions, Df; Eggs, Ej. 94. PASSER MONTANUS—Tree Sparrow, p. 113. Dimensions, Ba; Eggs, Ea. 95. FRINGILLA C#LEBS—Chaffinch, p, 96. Dimensions, Ct; Eggs, Ce. 96. FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA—Brambling, p. 96. Dimensions, Dp ;.Eggs, Cr. 97. LINOTA CANNABINA—Linnet, p. 105. Dimensions, Db; Eggs, By. 98. LINOTA LINARIA—Mealy Redpoll, p. 04. Dimensions, Bd ; Eggs, Ax. 99. LINOTA RUFESCENS—Lesser Redpoll, p. 104. Dimensions, Ak; Eggs, Av. Too. LINOTA HORNEMANNI—Greenland Redpoll, p. 105. Dimensions, Bk; Eggs, AM. : ror, LINOTA FLAVIROSTRIS—Twite, p. ros. Dimensions, Ce; Eggs, Br. 102, PYRRHULA EUROP/A—Bullfinch, p. 118, Dimensions, Di; Eggs, Ds. 103. PYRRHULA ERYTHRINA—Soarlet Grosbeak, . 118. Dimensions, Ci; Eggs, De. 104. PYRRHULA ENUCLEATOR—Pine Grosbeak, #. 118. Dimensions, Hg; Eggs, Fa. 105. LOXIA CURVIROSTRA—Crossbill, p. 106, Dimensions, Eg; Eggs, Em 106, LOXIA_PITYOPSITTACUS—Parrot Crossbill—p. r06. Dimensions, Fj; Eggs, Ex. 107. LOXIA LEUCOPTERA—White-winged Crossbill, p. 106. Dimensions, En; Eggs, Cs. COLOURED PLATES. Ig: Pirate VIII.—continued. Plate IX. Plate X. 108, LOXIA BIFASCIATA—Two-barred Crossbill, p, 106. Gas Dimensions, Do; Eggs, Cr. Emberizina. 109. EMBERIZA MELANOCEPHALA—Black-headed Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Eq; Eggs, Et. 110. EMBERIZA MILIARIA—Corn Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Fd; Eggs, Fn. 111. EMBERIZA CITRINELLA—Yellow Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Ej}; Eggs, Eg. 112, EMBERIZA CIRLUS—Cirl Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Dh; Eggs, EG 113. EMBERIZA HORTULANA—Ortolan Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Ec; Eggs, Dr. II4. EMBERIZA RUSTICA—Rustic Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Cf; Eggs, Ds 115, EMBERIZA PUSILLA—Little Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Aq; Eggs, Bn. 116. EMBERIZA SCHG@NICLUS—Reed Bunting, p. 94. Dimensions, Cr; Eggs, Cp. 117. CALCARIUS LAPPONICUS—Lapland Bunting, fp. 84. Dimensions, Ed; Eggs, Dr. 118. PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS—Snow Bunting, p. 116, Dimensions, Fm; Eggs, Fc Ictevine. Ig. AGELAUS PH@NICEUS—Red-winged Starling, p. 78. Dimensions, Ia; Eggs, Fu. Sturnine. 120. STURNUS VULGARIS-—Starling, p. 123. Dimensions, Hb; Eggs, Go. 121. PASTOR ROSEUS—Rose-coloured Starling, p. 113. Dimensions, Hk; Eggs, Gr. Gorvine. 122, PYRRHOCORAX GRACULUS—Chough, #, 118. Dimensions, Ni; Eggs, Ku. 123. PYRRHOCORAX ALPINUS—Alpine Chough, , 118 Dimensions, M1; Eggs, JR. 124. NUCIFRAGA CARYOCATACTES=Nutcracker, p. 110. Dimensions, La; Eggs, In. 125, GARRULUS CLANDARIUS ley f- 98 Dimensions, Lo; Eggs, Hr. 226 PICA RUSTICA—Magpie, p. 116. Dimensions, Oc; Eggs, Ij. 127, CORVUS MONEDULA~—Jackdaw, p. go. Dimensions, Mc; Eggs, Jt. 128. CORVUS CORONE—Carrion Crow, p. go. Dimensions, Om; Eggs, Kr. 129. CORVUS CORNIX-— Hooded Crow, p. go. Dimensions, Pb; Eggs, Ke. 130, CORVUS FRUGI See 90. Dimensions, Pi; Eggs, Kx. 131. CORVUS CORAX—Raven, p. 90. Dimensions, Re; Eggs, Mu. Alaudine. 132, ALAUDA ARVENSIS—Sky Lark, p. 78, Dimensions, Ft; Eggs, Es. 133. ALAUDA ARBOREA—Wood Learkts fs 78. Dimensions, Dq; Eggs, Ep. 1344 ALAUDA CRISTATA—Crested Lark, #. 78. Dimensions, Fi; Eggs, Fc. 135. ALAUDA BRACHYDACTYLA-—Short-toed Lark, p. 78. Dimensions, Cl; Eggs, Dt. 136. ALAUDA SIBIRICA—White-winged Lark; p. 78. Dimensions, Gj; Eggs, Fp, 20 COLOURED PLATES. PLATE X.—continued, 1375 OTOCORYS ALPESTRIS—Shore Lark, p. 112. Dimensions, Fk; Eggs, Fr. CYPSELIDZ. 138. CYPSELUS APUS—Swift, p. 93. Dimensions, Fp; Eggs, Fx. 139. CYPSELUS MELBA—Alpine Swift, p. 93. Dimensions, He; Eggs, Ho. 140, ACANTHYLLIS CAUDACUTA~—Needle-tailed Swift, p. 75. Dimensions, Ho. CAPRIMULGIDE. 141, CAPRIMULGUS EUROPEUS—Nightijar, p. 85. Dimensions, It; Eggs, Hr. 142. CAPRIMULGUS RUFICOLLIS—Red-necked Nightjar, p. 85 Dimensions, Kt; Eggs, Hr. 143. CAPRIMULGUS 4XGYPTIUS—Egyptian Nightjar, p. 85. Dimensions, Jn; Eggs, Ht. PICIDE. Plate XI. 144. PICUS MAJOR—Great Spotted Woodpecker, p. 116, Dimensions, li; Eggs, Fr 145. PICUS MINOR—Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, #. 116. Dimensions, De; Eggs, CK. 146, PICUS VILLOSUS—Hairy Woodpecker, p. 116. Dimensions, Hn; Eggs, Fs. 147. PICUS PUBESCENS—Downy Woodpecker, p. 116. Dimensions, Er ; Eggs, Fr. 148. PICUS MARTIUS—Great Black Woodpecker, p. 116. Dimensions, Ok; Eggs, Iz. 149. GECINUS VIRIDIS—Green Woodpecker, p. 99. Dimensions, Li; Eggs, Ha. 150, IYNX TORQUILLA—Wryneck, p. 102. Dimensions, Eh; Eggs, Do. ALCEDINIDZ. 151, ALCEDO ISPIDA~—Kingfisher, p. 79. Dimensions, Et; Eggs, Dg. 152. CERYLE ALCYON—Belted Kingfisher, p. 86. Dimensions, Ld; Eggs, IL. CORACIIDE. Plate XII. 153. CORACIAS GARRULA—Roller, p. 89. Dimensions, Ks; Eggs, Jc. MEROPIDZ. 154. MEROPS APIASTER—Bee-eater, #. 107. Dimensions, Jq; Eggs, Ge. 155. MEROPS PHILIPPINUS—Blue-tailed Bee-eater, p. 107, Dimensions, Kg. UPUPIDZ. 156. UPUPA EPOPS—Hoopoe, 6. 129. Dimensions, Ke; Eggs, Go. CUCULIDZ. 157. CUCULUS CANORUS—Cuckoo, #, 91. Dimensions, Md; Eggs, Fa. 158. COCCYSTES GLANDARIUS—Great Spotted Cuokoo, p. 88. Dimensions, Nb; Eggs, Ia. 159. COCCYZUS AMERICANUS—Yellow-billed Cuckoo, p. 88, Dimensions, Kq; Eggs, Hr. 160. COCCYZUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS—Black-billed Cuckoo, p. 88. Dimensions, Kp; Eggs, Gu, STRIGIDZ. Plate XIII, 161. STRIX FLAMMEA—Barn Owl, ?. 123. Dimensions, Le; Eggs, Lp. COLOURED PLATES. 21 PLaTE XIII.—continued. Plate XIV. 162, ASIO OTUS—Long-eared Owl, p. 83. Dimensions, Mf; Eggs, Kr. 163. ASIO ACCIPITRINUS—Short-eared Owl, p. 83. Dimensions, Mq; Eggs, Jr. 164. SYRNIUM ALUCO—Tawny Owl, p. 124. Dimensions, On ; Eggs, ME. 165. NYCTEA Se ee eer Owl, p. 110. Dimensions, Rf; Eggs, P’ 166, SURNIA ULULA—Hawk bie p. 124. Dimensions, Lr; Eggs, Ku. 167. NYCTALA TENGMALMI—Tengmalm’s Owl, f. 110. Dimensions, Id; Eggs, l1. 168, SCOPS GIU—Scops Owl, p. 120. Dimensions, Gk; Eggs, Hu. 169. BUBO IGNAVUS—Eagle Owl, p. 84. Dimensions, Rp; Eggs, Qc. 170. ATHENE NOCTUA—Little Owl, p. 83. Dimensions, Hd; Eggs, JB. VULTURIDZ. 17. GYPS FULVUS-—Griffon Vulture, £. 99. Dimensions, Tj; Eggs, So. 172. NEOPHRON_ PERCNOPTERUS—Egyptian Vulture, p. 109. Dimensions, Ri; Eggs, Qy. FALCONIDA. 173. CIRCUS HZ RUGINOSUS—Marsh Harrier, p. 87. Dimensions, Qg; Eggs, Nu 174 & 174a, CIRCUS CYANEUS—Hen Harrier (male and female), p. 87. Plate XV. Plate XVI. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181, 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188, 189. 190. IgI. 192. Dimensions, Oo; Eggs, Lg. CIRCUS CINERACEUS—Montagu’s Harrier, p. 87. Dimensions, Oa; Eggs, Km. BUTEO VULGARIS—Buzzard, p. 84. Dimensions, Ql; Eggs, OF. ARCHIBUTEO LAGOPUS—Rough-legged Buzzard, p. 82. Dimensions, Rr; Ezgs, Os AQUILA CLANGA~Spotted Eagle, p. 81. Dimensions, Rq; Eges, Qu. AQUILA CHRYSAETUS—Golden Eagle, p. 81. Dimensions, Te; Eggs, Rr. HALIAETUS ALBICILLA—Sea Eagle, p. 100. Dimensions, St; Eggs, Rt. ACCIPITER PALUMBARIUS—Gos Hawk, p. 76: Dimensions, Qj; Eggs, Pr ACCIPITER ATRICAPILLUS—American Gos Hawk, p. 76 Dimensions, Qd; Eggs, Pu. ACCIPITER NISUS—Sparrow Hawk, #. 76. Dimensions, Kh’; Eggs, Jt. MILVUS ICTINUS—Kite, p. 108. Dimensions, Rs; Eggs, Px. MILVUS MIGRANS—Black Kite, p. 108. Dimensions, Qo; Eggs, OH. ELANOIDES FURCATUS— peatehaer railed Kite, £. 93. Dimensions, Rj; Eggs, M ELANUS CERULEUS~ Black-winged Kite, p. 94. Dimensions, Lf. PERNIS APIVORUS—Honey Buzzard, p. 114. Dimensions, Re; Eggs, Ny. FALCO GYRFALCO—Gyr Faloon, p. 95. Dimensions, Po ; Eggs, Or. FALCO CANDICANS—Greenland Falcon, p. 95. Dimensions, Qe; Eggs, OT. FALCO ISLANDUS~—Iceland Falcon, p. 95. Dimensions, Qk; Eggs, Or. FALCO PEREGRINUS—Peregrine Falcon, . 95. Dimensions, Nt; Eggs, Oz. 22 COLOURED PLATES. Pirate XVI.—continued. 193. FALCO SUBBUTEO—Hobby, #. 95. Dimensions, Lg; Eggs, Kg. 194. FALCO ZSALON—Merlin, p. 95. f Dimensions, Ja; Eggs, JN. 195. FALCO VESPERTINUS- Red-footed Falcon, p. 95. Dimensions, Jr ; Eggs, Js. 196 & 1964. FALCO TINNUNCULUS~—Kestrel (maleand female), p. 95. Dimensions, Lo; Eggs, Kx. 197: FALCO CENCHRIS—Lesser Kestrel, p. 95. Dimensions, Ki; Eggs, Jr. 198. PANDION HALIAETUS—Osprey, p. 112. Dimensions, Qn; Eggs, PR. PELECANIDA. Plate XVII. 199. PHALACROCORAX CARBO—Cormorant, p. 114. Dimensions, St; Eggs, Qs. 200. PHALACROCORAX GRACULUS-—Shag, p. 114. Dimensions, Rt; Eggs, Ps. 201. SULA BASSANA—Gannet, p. 123. Dimensions, Sj; Eggs, Rg. ARDEIDZ. : 202, ARDEA CINEREA—Heron, p. 82. Dimensions, Tb; Eggs, Pr. 203. ARDEA PURPUREA—Purple Heron, #. 82. Dimensions, Sn; Eggs, ON. 204. ARDEA ALBA—Great White Heron, p. 82. Dimensions, Th; Eggs, Qpv. 205. ARDEA GARZETTA—Little Egret, p. 82. Dimensions, Qb; Eggs, Le. 206. ARDEA BUBULCUS—Buff-backed Heron, #. 82. Dimensions, Pe; Eggs, Lm 207. ARDEA RALLOIDES—Squacco Heron, Pp. 82. Dimensions, Oh ; Eggs, Jo. Plate XVIII. 208 ARDETTA MINUTA—Little Bittern, p. 82. Dimensions, Km; Eggs, Ic. 29. NYCTICORAX GRISEUS—Night Heron, p. 110. Dimensions, Qr; Eggs, Mc 210, BOTAURUS STELLARIS—Bittern, p. 84. Dimensions, Sg; Eggs, NE. 2it. BOTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS—American Bittern, p. 8}. Dimensions, Sa; Eggs, NF. CICONIIDA. 212, CICONIA ALBA—White Stork, p, 86. Dimensions, Ti; Eggs, Rn. 213. CICONIA NIGRA—Black Stork, p. 86, Dimensions, Tf; Eggs, Qo. PLATALEIDE. 214. PLATALEA LEUCORODIA—Spoonbill, p. 116. Dimensions, Sp; Eggs, Qa. IBIDIDE. 215. IBIS FALCINELLUS—Glossy Ibis, #. 1oz. Dimensions, Qa; Eggs, No. PHENICOPTERIDZ. 216, PHGNICOPTERUS ROSEUS—Flamingo, ¢. 115, Dimensions, Tn; Eggs, Sv. ANATIDZ. Plate XIX. 217. ANSER CINEREUS—Grey Lag Goose, p, 80. Dimensions, Sh; Eggs, St. 218. ANSER SEGETUM—Bean Goose, p. 80, Dimensions, Sq; Eggs, Sr. COLOURED PLATES. 23 Plate XIX.—conlinued, Plate XX. Plate XX. Plate XXII. 219. 220, 221, 222. 223. 224. 225. 226, 227. 228. 229. 4go. 431. 232. 240. 241. 242; 243+ 244. 245. 246, 247. 248, 249. 250. ANSER BRACHYRHYNCHUS-—Pink-foot 2d Goose, p. 80. Dimensions, Se; Eggs, Sc ANSER ALBIFRONS—White-fronted Goose, p. 80. Dimensions, Sc; Eggs, Rx. ANSER ERYTHROPUS—Lesser White-fronted Goose, p. 80- Dimensions, Pk; Eggs, Ru ANSER HYPERBOREUS—Snow Goose, p. 80, Dimensions, Si; Eggs, Sv. BERNICLA BRENTA—Brent Goose, #. 83. Dimensions, Qi; Eggs, Rx. BERNICLA LEUCOPSIS—Barnacle Goose, p. 83. Dimensions, Rh ; Eggs, Rv BERNICLA CANADENSIS—Canada Goose, p. 83. Dimensions, Tg ; Eggs, Sj. BERNICLA RUFICOLLIS—Red-breasted Goose, p. 83. Dimensions, Qf; Eggs, Qt. CYGNUS OLOR—Mute Swan, ?. 92. Dimensions, Tr; Eggs, Sr. CYGNUS IMMUTABILIS—Polish Swan, p. 92. Dimensions, To. CYGNUS MUSICUS—Hooper Swan, f. 92. Dimensions, Tq; Eggs, So. CYGNUS AMERICANUS—American Swan, p. 92. Dimensions, Tm. CYGNUS BUCCINATOR—Trumpeter Swan, p. 02. “Dimensions, Tp. CYGNUS BEWICKI—Bewick's Swan, p. 92. Dimensions, Tl; Eggs, Sp. TADORNA CORNUTA—Sheld Duck, p. 125. Dimensions, Ro; Eggs, QP. TADORNA CASARCA—Ruddy Sheld Duck, p. 12§. Dimensions, Rb ; Eggs, Qr. ANAS BOSCAS—Mallard, p. 79. Dimensions, Qp; Eggs, Pa. ANAS STREPERUS—Gadwall, p. 79. Dimensions, Ph: Eggs, Oc, SPATULA CLYPEATA~—Shoveller, p. 121. Dimensions, Pg ; Eggs, Nu. DAFILA ACUTA—Pintail, p. 93. Dimensions, Rn; Eggs, Ns. QUERQUEDULA CRECCA-—Teal, p. 118. Dimensions, Ln; Eggs, Lr. QUERQUEDULA DISCORS—American Blue-winged Teal, p. 118. Dimensions, Lm; Eggs, Ko. QUERQUEDULA CIRCIA—Garganey, #, 118. Dimensions, Mi; Eggs, Ma. MARECA PENELOPE—Wigeon, /. 106. Dimensions, Oj; Eggs, Ne. MARECA AMERICANA—American Wigeon, p. 106. Dimensions, Os; Eggs, OL. FULIGULA RUFINA—Red-crested Pochard, . 97. Dimensions, Pn; Eggs, Pc. FULIGULA FERINA—Pochard, p. 97. Dimensions, Od; Eggs, Pt. FULIGULA NYROCA—White-eyed Duck, f. 97. Dimensions, Na; Eggs, Nc. FULIGULA CRISTATA—Tufted Duck, p. 97. Dimensions, Nq; Eggs, Pr. FULIGULA MARILA—Scaup, p. 97. Dimensions, Pc; Eggs, Qa. CLANGULA GLAUCION—Goldeneye, p 87. Dimensions, Oi; Eggs, Po. CLANGULA ALBEOLA—Buffel-headed Duck, p. 87. Dimensions, Mh; Eggs, Mr. 24 COLOURED PI.ATES. PuLatTe XXII.—continued. 251%. HARELDA GLACIALIS—Long-tailed Duck, p. 100. Dimensions, Rl; Eggs, Os. 252. COSMONETTA HISTRIONICA—Harlequin Duck, p. 90, Dimensions, Np; Eggs, Oo. 253. SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA—Eider Duck, #. 121. Dimensions, Rg; Eggs, SB 254. SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS—King Eider, p. 121. Dimensions, Qt; Eggs, Qr. 255. SOMATERIA STELLERI—Steller's Eider, p. 121. Dimensions, Pd; Eggs, Pa. 256, CEDEMIA NIGRA—Scoter, ¢. 111. Dimensions, P£; Eggs, Qk. 257. CEDEMIA FUSCA—Velvet Scoter, p. 111. Dimensions, Ps; Eggs, Rr 258. GEDEMIA PERSPICILLATA—Surf Scoter, p. 111. Dimensions, Pm; Eggs, Qc. 259. MERGUS MERGANSER—Goosander, p. 107. Dimensions, Rk; Eggs, Ra. 260. MERGUS SERRATOR—Red-breasted Merganser, p. 107. Dimensions, Qq; Eggs, Qo. 261. MERGUS ALBELLUS—Smevw, 9. 107. Dimensions, No; Eggs, Nt. 262. MERGUS CUCULLATUS—Hooded Merganser, p. 107 Dimensions, Oq ; Eggs, Nx. COLUMBIDZ. ' Plate XXIII. 263. COLUMBA PALUMBUS—Ring Dove, p. 88. Dimensions, Ng; Eggs, Kn. 264, COLUMBA CENAS—Stock Dove, p. 88. Dimensions, Kr; Eggs, Jc. 265. COLUMBA LIVIA—Rock Doye, p. 88. Dimensions, Jp; Eggs, Jp. 266. TURTUR COMMUNIS—Turtle Dove, p. 129. Dimensions, Jt; Eggs, Gr. 267. ECTOPISTES MIGRATORIUS—Passenger Pigeon, p. 93, Dimensions, Nd; Eggs, J}. PTEROCLIDZ. 268. SYRRHAPTES PARADOXUS—Puallas’s Sand Grouse, p. 125 Dimensions, Nh; Eggs, La. PHASIANIDA. 269 & 269a. TETRAO UROGALLUS—Capercaillie (male and feinale), p. 125. Dimensions, Ta; Eggs, Oa. ajo. TETRAO TETRIX—Black Grouse, p. 125. Dimensions, Pt; Eggs, Mp. 271. TETRAO SCOTICUS—Red Grouse, p. 125. Dimensions, Nc; Eggs, Lo, 272 & 272a, TETRAO MUTUS—Ptarmigan (summer and winter), p. 125. Dimensions, Mj; Eggs, Li. Plate XXIV. 273. PHASIANUS COLCHICUS—Pheasant, p. 115, Dimensions, So; Eggs, Mp. 274. PERDIX RUFA—Red-legged Partridge, . 113, Dimensions, Lh; Eggs, Ka. 275. PERDIX CINEREA—Partridge, p. 113. Dimensions, Kj; Eggs, It. 276. COTURNIX COMMUNIS—Quail, p. 91. Dimensions, El; Eggs, GE. TURNICIDE. 277. TURNIX SYLVATICA—Andalusian Hemipode, p. 12g, Dimensions, Go; Eggs, Gs. RALLIDZ, 278. CREX PRATENSIS—Corn Crake, p. 91. Dimensions, Jh; Eggs, Ja. 279. CREX MARUETTA-—Spotted Crake, p, gt. Dimensions, Ur; Eggs, Ic. 7-44. Plate IV. 45-50. Plate V. 60-72. Plate VIII. 102-118. Plate KX. 132-143. RNAUG ded 144-152, . x Plate XII. 153-160. 161-170, Plate XIN. Plate XIV. 171-178. = 3 i) ‘ 179-187. Plate XV. Plate XVI. 188-198. Plate XVII. "199-207. f Plate XVII. 208-216. =" Plate XIX. 217-226, ; — £ ME Fale * at eres Plate XX. 227-234. Plate XXI. 235-248. Plate XXII. 249-262. Plate XXII = 263-272a. Plate XXIV. 273-284. bhevod Plate XXV. 285-201. Plate XXVI. 292-303. Plate XXVII. 304-316. Plate AAVili. 317-325. Plate XXIx. - 329-340. Plate XXX. 341-353. Plate XXXL 354-368.) ef Margy eS Mt Plate XXXITI. 384-308 COLOURED PLATES. 2k Pirate XXIV.—continued. 280, CREX PARVA—Little Crake, /. 91. Dimensions, Gp; Eggs, Hm. 281. CREX BAILLONI—Baillon’s Crake, p gI. Dimensions, Fa; Eggs, GK. ~ 282. RALLUS AQUATICUS—Water Rail, p. 119. Dimensions, Jd; Eggs, Ir. 283. GALLINULA CHLOROPUS—Moorhen, /. 9% Dimensions, Ko; Eggs, Ly. 284. FULICA ATRA—Coot, p. 97. Dimensions, Mi; Eggs, Nu. _ GRUIDZA. Plate XXV. 285. GRUS COMMUNIS—Crane, 9. 99. Dimensions, Tk; Eggs, Sn. 286. ORUS VIRGO Dauiolselie Crane, @. 9). imensions. ; s, SH. UTIDIDA, cere 287 OTIS TARDA—Great Bustard, p. 112. Dimensions, Tc.; Eggs, Rs. 288. OTIS TETRAX—Little Bustard, p. 112, Dimensions, Ne; Eggs, Oa. 289. OTIS MACQUEENI—Macqueen's Bustard, p. 1:2. Dimensions, Sf; Eggs, Qu. (EDICNEMID. 290. GDICNEMUS SCOLOPAX—Stone Curlew, p. 111, Dimensions, Mn; Eggs, Oa. GLAREOLIDZ. 2g1. GLAREOLA PRATINCOLA—Pratincole, p. 99. Dimensions, Ik; Eggs, Hi. CHARADRIIDZ. Plate XXVI. 292. CURSORIUS GALLICUS—Cream-coloured Course, /. 92. Dimensions, Ip; Eggs, Iu 293. EUDROMIAS MORINELLUS—Dotterel, p. 95. Dimensions, le; Eggs, Kr. 294. CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS—Golden Plover, p. 86, Dimensions, Ir; Eggs, Nr. B50 CHARADRIUS FULVUS~—Eastern Golden Plover, p. 86. Dimensions, Ic; Eggs, Mt. 296. SQUATAROLA HELVETICA—Grey Plover, p. 121. Dimensions, Jm; Eggs, Nb 297. AEGIALITIS HIATICULA—Ringed Plover, p. 77. Dimensions, Fn; Eggs, Ir. 298. AEGIALITIS CURONICUS—Little Ringed Plover, p. 77. Dimensions, Ds; Eggs, Hp. 299. AEGIALITIS CANTIANUS—Kentish Plover, p. 77. Dimensions, Eo; Eggs, He. 300. AEGIALITIS VOCIFERUS~Killdeer Plover, p. 77. Dimensions, 1q; Eggs, Ig. jor. VANELLUS CRISTATUS—Lapwing, p. 130. Dimensions, Lb; Eggs, Mb. 302. STREPSILAS INTERPRES—Turnstone, p. 123. Dimensions, Ht; Eggs, KB 3033 HAEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS—Oystercatcher, p. 100. Dimensions, Nf ; Eggs, Om. SCOLOPACIDZA. Plate XXVII, 304. RECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA—Avocet, p. 119. Dimensions, Oe; Eggs, Na. 305. HIMANTOPUS CANDIDUS—Black-winged Stilt, p. 100. Dimensions, Lc; Eggs, Ls. 306, PHALAROPUS HYPERBOREUS—Red-necked Phalarope, p. 114. Dimensions, Fh; Eggs, Go. 307. PHALAROPUS FULICARIUS—Grey Phalarope, p. 114. Dimensions, Gt; Eggs, Hr. 308. SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA—Woodcock, f, 120, Dimensions, Lp; Eggs, Lr. Cc 26 COLOURED PLATES. PLaTE XXVII.—continued. Plate XXVIII. 323 & 3234. Plate XXIX. 309. 310. 3ir. 312. 313. 314. 415. 316. 4 317. 318. 319. 320. gil: 322, 324. ' 325. 326, 327. 328. 3296 330. 331. 332. 333+ 334+ 335- 336. 337. 338. 339- 340. GALLINAGO MAJOR—Great Snipe, p. 98. Dimensions, Js; Eggs, Lu. GALLINAGO CG@LESTIS—Snipe, p. 98. Dimensions, In; Eggs, Ke. GALLINAGO GALLINULA~—Jack Snipe, p. 98: Dimensions, Gd; Eggs, JK. MACRORHAMPUS GRISEUS—Red-breasted Snipe, p. 106, Dimenstons, Je; Eggs, Ls. LIMICOLA PLATYRHYNCHA—Broad-billed Sandpiper, p. 104. Dimensions, Dr; Eggs, Hr. TRINGA MACULATA—Pectoral Sandpiper, p. 147. Dimensions, Hf; Eggs, Jo. TRINGA FUSICOLLIS—Bonaparte’s Sandpiper, p. 127. Dimensions, Gi; Eggs, Ik. TRINGA ALPINA—Dunlin, . 127. Dimensions, Gg ; Eggs, Iv. TRINGA MINUTA—Little Stint, p. 127. Dimensions, Ck; Eggs, GJ. TRINGA TEMMINCKI—Temminck’s Stint, f. 127. Dmiensions, Dd; Eggs, Gre. TRINGA MINUTILLA—American Stint, p. 127. Dimensions, Dn; Eggs, Gt. TRINGA SUBARQUATA—Curlew Sandpiper, p. 127. Dimensions, Er, TRINGA MARITIMA—Purple Sandpiper, p. 127. Dimensions, Hj; Eggs, Ja. TRINGA CANUTUS—Knot, p. 127. Dimensions, 1). MACHETES PUGNAX—Ruff and Reeve, #. 106. Dimensions, J13 Eggs, Lx. CALIDRIS ARENARIA—Sanderling, p. 85. Dimensions, Gr; Eggs, Im. es ea RUFESCENS—Buff-breasted Sandpiper, p. 128. Dimensions, Hc 3; Eggs, Ju. BARTRAMIA LONGICAUDA—Bartram's Sandpiper, f. 83. Dimensions, Kf; Eggs, Ln. TOTANUS HYPOLEUCUS—Sandpiper, p. 126, Dimensions, Fs ; Eggs, \p. TOTANUS MACULARIUS—Spotted Sandpiper, p. 126. Dimenstons, Ge; Eggs, Ha. TOTANUS OCHROPUS-—Green Sandpiper, p. 126, Dimensions, Hm; Eggs, Ju. TOTANUS GLAREOLA—Wood Sandpiper, p. 126. Dimensions, Ha; Eggs, JM. TOTANUS SOLITARIUS —Solitary Sandpiper, p. 126. Dimensions, Hs. TOTANUS CALIDRIS—Redshank, #. 126, Dimensions, Jf; Eggs, Lr. TOTANUS FUSCUS—Spotted Redshank, p. 126, Dimensions, Ke; Eggs, Mj. TOTANUS FLAVIPES—Yellowshank, . 126. Dimensions, Ji; Eggs, Ks. : TOTANUS CANESCENS—Greenshank, p. 126, Dimensions, Lj ; Eggs, Mo. LIMOSA LAPPONICA—Bar-tailed Godwit, p, 104. Dimensions, Mr; Eges, Ox. LIMOSA BELGICA-—-Black-tailed Godwit, A. 1c}. Dimensions, Or; Eggs, Ov. NUMENIUS ARQUATUS—Curlew, . 110, Dimensions, ‘Ra; Eggs, Qo. NUMENIUS PH/OPUS—Whimbrel, . r10. Dimensions, Og ; Eggs, Py. NUMENIUS BOREALIS—Eskimo Curlew, p. 110, Dimensions, Lq; Eggs, NQ. COLOURED PLATES. 27 LARIDA. Plate XXX. 341. 342. 343- 344 345 346. 347- 348. 349- 350. 351. 352. 353: Plate XXXI_ 354. 355+ 350. 357+ 358. 359- 364. 365. 366, 367. 368. Plate XXXII. 369. 370. 371. HYDROCHELIDON NIGRA—Black Tern, p. 101. Dimensions, Jb; Eggs, Io HYDROCHELIDON LEUCOPTERA—White-winged Black Tern, p. ror. Dimensions, 11; Eggs, Hs. HYDROCHELIDON HYBRIDA—Whiskered Tern, p. 101. Dimensions, Ka; Eggs, Kr. STERNA pues Hes ees Tern, p. 122. Dimensions, Mg; Eggs, M STERNA CASPIA—Caspian Tee, p. 122 Dimensions, Pl; Eggs, QE. STERNA CANTIACA—Sandwich Tern, p. 122. Dimensions, Ms; Eggs, Nn. STERNA DOUGALLI— Roseate Tern, p. 122. Dimensions, Nm; Eggs, Le, STERNA FLUVIATILIS—Tern, p. 122. Dimensions, Ll; Eggs, Lu. STERNA MACRURA—Arctic Tern, p. 122. Dimensions, Mo; Eggs, Kp STERNA MINUTA—Little Tern, #. 122. Dimensions, If; Eggs, Hu. STERNA FULIGINOSA—Sooty Tern, p. 122. Dimensions, Nj; Eggs, Nv. STERNA AN/ESTHETA—Lesser Sooty Tern, p. 122. Dimensions, Lt; Eggs, Mu. ANOUS STOLIDUS—Noddy, p. 80. Dimensions, Mb; Eggs, Np. XEMA SABINII—Sabine' s pal p. 130. Dimensions, Lk; Eggs, Lr. RHODOSTETHIA ROSEA—Wedge-tailed Gull, p. 119. Dimensions, Me. LARUS PHILADELPHIA—Bonaparte's Gull, p. 103. Dimensions, Mm; Eggs, Ms. LARUS MINUTUS—Little ea, p. 102. Dimensions, Jq; Eggs LARUS RIDIBUNDUS—Black- fae Gull, p. 103. Dimensions, Nk; Eggs, Mr. LARUS MELANOCEPHALUS — Mediterranean Black- headed Gull, p, 103. Dimensions, Nr; Eggs, Mx. LARUS ICHTHYAETUS-—Great Black-headed Gull, p. 103. Dimensions, Sb; Eggs, Rr. LARUS CANUS—Gull, p. 103. Dimensions, Op; Eggs, Or. LARUS ARGENTATUS—Herring Gull, . 103. Dimensions, Qm; Eggs, Re. LARUS FUSCUS—Lesser Black-backed Gull, p. 103. Dimensions, Pq; Eggs, Qn. LARUS MARINUS—Great Black-backed Gull, p. 103. Dimensions, Sd; Eggs, Re LARUS GLAUCUS—Glaucous Gull, p. 103. Dimensions, Sl; Eggs, Sa. LARUS LEUCOPTERUS~—lIceland Gull, p. 103. Dimenstons, Qh; Eggs, Re RISSA TRIDACTYLA~—Kittiwake, p. 119. Dimensions, Mp; Eggs, Op. PAGOPHILA Ma ee Eee Gull, p. 112. Dimensions, Ns ; Eggs, P STERCORARIUS CATARRHACTES—Great Skua, p, 122. Dimensions, Rd; Eggs, Ru STERCORARIUS POMATORHINUS—Pomatorhine Skua, p. 122. Dimensions, Pp; Eggs, Pa. STERCORARIUS CREPIDATUS—Arctic or Richardson's Skua, p. 122. Dimensions, Pj; Eggs, Ps. . Ca 28 COLOURED PLATES. Puate XXXII.—continued. 372. STERCORARIUS PARASITICUS—Long-tailed Skua, p. 122. Dimensions, Qc; Eggs, NT. ALCIDZ., 373. ALCA TORDA—Razorbill, p. 79. Dimensions, Nn; Eggs, Rv. 374 ALCA IMPENNIS-—Great Auk, . 79. Dimensions, Sk; Eggs, Ss. 375. URIA TROILE—Guillemot, p. 130. Dimensions, Ob ; Eggs, SE. 376. URIA BRUENNICHI—Brinnich's Guillemot, p. 136. Dimensions, Of: Eggs, SE, 377. URIA GRYLLE—Black Guillemot, f. 130. Dimensions, Kn; Eggs, Pe. 478. MERGULUS ALLE —Little Auk, . 107, Dimensions, Hl; Eggs, Mr. 379. FRATERCULA ARCTICA—Puffin, p. 96. Dimensions, Kd; Eggs, Pn. COLYMBIDZ. 380. COLYMBUS GLACIALIS—Great Northern Diver, p. 89. Dimensions, Sm; Eggs, SM.. 381. COLYMBUS ADAMSI—Yellow-billed Diver, p. 89. Dimensions, Ss; Eggs, Sk 382. COLYMBUS ARCTICUS—Black-throated Diver, p. 89. Dimensions, Rm; Eggs, Sc 383. COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS—Red-throated Diver, p. 89. Dimensions, Qs; Eggs, Ro. PODICIPEDIDZ. 2 Plate XXXIII, 384. PODICEPS CRISTATUS—Great Crésted Grebe, p. 117. Dimensions, Pr; Eggs, O1. 385. PODICEPS GRISEIGENA~—Red-necked Grebe, p. 117. Dimensions, Mt; Eggs, Mn. 386. PODICEPS AURITUS—Sclavonian Grebe, p. 117. Dimensions, Kl; Eges, La. 387. PODICEPS NIGRICOLLIS—Eared Grebe, p. 117, Dimensions, Kb; Eggs, Ma. 388. PODICEPS FLUVIATILIS—Little Grebe, p. 117. Dimensions, Hp; Eggs, Is. PROCELLARIIDA. 389. FULMARUS GLACIALIS—Fulmar, p. 98. Dimensions, Ot; Eggs, Ry. 390. FULMARUS HSITATUS—Capped Petrel, p. 98. Dimensions, Nl. 391. PUFFINUS MAJOR-—Great Shearwater, p. 117. Dimensions, Pa; Eggs, Re 392- PUFFINUS GRISEUS—Sooty Shearwater, p. 117. Dimensions, Ol; Eggs, Qu. 393. PUFFINUS ANGLORUM—Manx Shearwater, /. 117. Dimensions, Ma; Eggs, Po. 394. PUFFINUS OBSCURUS—Dusky Shearwater, p. 119. Dimensions, Jo; Eggs, Oj. 395. BULWERIA COLUMBINA—Bulwer’s Petrel, p. 84. Dimensions, 1s; Eggs, Kj. 396. PROCELLARIA LEUCORRHOA—Fork-tailed Petrel, p. 517, Dimensions, Fo; Eggs, Is 307, PROCELLARIA PELAGICA—Stormy Petrel, p. 117. Dimensions, Cn ; Eggs, Gn. 398. OCEANITES OCEANICUS— Wilson's Petrel, p. 111, Dimensions, Gl; Eggs, Hg. CHAPTER IV, SORTATION., —+o+— HAT is the name of the bird we have brought in with us fron. our walk? Probably it has many names, both local and technical ; but its local name is useless to us, to begin with, for such names are net systematic, and give no clue to classification, What we have to do, then, is to identify the bird, to discover the species under which it has been described, and in that way arrive at the plain English name by which it is generally known in our district. Now, individuals are grouped by naturalists into species, species into genera, genera into families, families into orders, and orders into a class or classes. In this case we do not know the species, but we know the class. Here is unmistakably one of the class Aves, or birds ; and that is all we can say about it in the present stage of our progress from the general to the particular. The Aves consist of certain orders, but these it will be convenient to leave for a while. These orders are made up of families, and as there are only 35 families in the scheme we have adopted, we can at once begin to sort them out by using whatever characteristic is readiest and handiest for identification, even though it may only hold good for such of their representatives as are found in our list. To begin with, there is one well-defined group of birds which are easily distinguishable. These are the so- called ‘‘ Birds of Prey,” the Aé/omorphe of Huxley, the Ragfores of the older classifi- cations. There is no mistaking the long, strong, cruel claws, and the sharp-curviny bill of such birds as these; and, for the purposes of identification, though not for classification — which is a very different thing—it will be found as simple a way as any to work on two main divisions, the first including the birds of prey, and the second all the rest. Retaining, then, the old name of Raptores, which has the advantage of being familiar, we have :— 1. Raptores. 2. Non-Raptores. It fortunately happens that the first is represented by only three families in the British list. These are :— 1. The Owls. 2. The Vultures. 3. The Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, &c., &c. or, to use the technical names, the Sir7gida, Vulturide, and Falconida 30 SORTATION. In the Owls the head is large, the eyes are in front, and the face is round, although in some the “facial disk,” as it is called, is not as complete as in others. Many of the Owls, too, have bristles on the feet instead of feathers ; but surely we are safe in assuming that anyone likely to take an interest in birds will know an Owl when he sees one ; and a lengthy description of the Strigidze would here be waste of space. The bird we are seeking to identify is certainly not an Owl. Then, if it be a bird of prey at all, it must belong to either the Vulturide or the Falconida:. The chances are very much against its being a Vulture, for the very good reason that only three Vultures have been shot on British ground within the memory of man. Vultures are but British birds by courtesy, like a good many others. It is interesting to know that our country has been visited by representatives of that singularly uninteresting family; and that is about all that need be said. The Vultures have bald or downy crowns ; and, consequently, if your bird of prey has feathers on its crown, you may rest assured that it is not one of the Vulturide. We are thus left with the Falconide, comprising the true Falcons who capture their prey in the air, the Hawks who capture it on or near the ground, the Harriers, Kites, and Buzzards, who capture it on the ground, and that bird by itself, the Osprey, which captures it from the water. Our bird, however, is not a bird of prey at all; its claws and beak and the absence of the “cere,” or bare skin at the base of the beak, show that clearly enough. It is not an Owl, it is not a Vulture, and it is not a Falcon in any sense of the word. We have got rid of the Raptores by their claws and beak ; in the identification of the rest it will be found that we can go a very long way on their feet. The feet will not take us all the way, but we shall considerably lighten our load by using them as long as they last. Now, the normal number of a bird’s toes is four—three in front and one behind—but in a large number of cases the hind toe is small, and in others it has become obsolete. We can thus start our second group with two main divisions :— 1. Three toes, 2. Four toes. Let us take the three-toed birds first. These we can sort at once into those that are web-footed, and those that are not; but as it will be found that the web extends farther along the toes in some than in others, we can further set up four minor divisions :— 1. United as far as the claws. 2. United as far as the second joint. 3. United at base. 4. Divided throughout. If the bird’s foot be found to consist of three toes only, and these SORTATION. 31 toes be webbed up to the claws, it will be assignable to one of four families, and to three of these in respect of only one representative, so that in that case we can tell at once, not only what ig its family, but what are its genus and species. If its wings are fin-like and its tail rudimentary, it will be one of the Alcide, an Auk, a Guillemot, a Puffin, or a Razorbill. If its wings are not fin-like and its tail is of ordinary proportions, it | may be either a Wilson’s Petrel, Pallas’s Sand Grouse, or a Kittiwake Gull. The Petrel you will know by its very long legs; it is the longest legged Petrel in the British list, and our only representative of the genus Oceanztes, which is the only genus of the Procedlaritde having only three toes. It is not a common bird, but it is unmistakable. Pallas’s Sand Grouse is also a rarity, an occasional straggler from the depths of Tartary, that caused quite a sensation amongst sportsmen by its first appearance here some thirty years ago. It is the only species on our list of the one genus Syrrhaptes, which is, in its turn, the only representative we have of the family Pteroclide. It is separable from the rest of this three-toed group by its long wings and its wedge-shaped tail, which has 16 feathers in it. As the Petrels have one three-toed representative, so have the Gulls, that being the Kittiwake. Occasionally we may find a Kittiwake with the hind toes rudimentary and not obsolete; but in that case we shall pick him up again among the rest of the Gulls, from whom he is generally distinguishable in the way we have stated. If he has only the three toes he is not likely to be mistaken for a Petrel, a Sand Grouse, or a Guillemot ; he is a true Sea Gull, white and silver grey ; his tail is not wedge-shaped ; and he has very lony wings, the flight feathers in which generally number 31. But, it may be asked, what are the flight feathers of a bird? Let us strip a wing and study it a little. Here is one, a Rook’s, freely treated so as to be clear. py 32 SORTATION. It will be seen at once that the wing answers to the man’s arm from the elbow downwards. Only so much of the humerus—called the “funnybone,” from the pun on humorous, which has become classical—is left in the drawing as to show its position. Joined on to it at the elbow are the radius and ulna, just as in the human arm, leading on to what represents our wrist and hand. At the joint are the scaphoid and cuneiform bones; and leading on from them is the well-developed second metacarpal, with a rudimentary first meta- carpal on one side of it, and a more easily recognisable third metacarpal on the other ; to the first metacarpal all that exists of the first finyer is attached ; to the second metacarpal hang the joints of the second finger; while the third metacarpal has the only repre- sentative of the three joints of the third finger. On the first finger, answering to our pollex, or thumb, grows the “bastard wing ;” on the other fingers and metacarpals, up to the wrist joint, come the “primary” feathers; and on the ulna come the “secondary ” feathers, often called the ‘cubitals.” The most important point to be noticed at this stage is that the flight feathers, or “remiges” as they are generally called—from the Latin vemex, an oarsman—are divided into primaries and secondaries at the carpal joint, just where the cuneiform comes, and that the secondaries fit into little pits along the ulna, while the primaries are distributed over the hand and fingers, or, to speak more technically, over the lower metacarpals and the phalanges of the lower digits. The secondaries vary a good deal, but the typical number of primaries is 11; of these six are on the metacarpals ; one, the “addigital,” is on the third digit; two, the “mid-digitals,” are on the first phalaux of the second digit ; and two, the “ pre-digitals,” are on the next phalanx of that digit ; the outer of the pre-digitals being the “remicle,” which is always rudimentary and sometimes obsolete. and now, having cleared the ground a little, let us resume. We have seen that our bird does not belong to the Strzgdde, or Vulturida, or Falconide, or Alcide, or Pteroclide, and we have thus definitely identified five families out of thirty-five, and have also discovered that our specimen belongs to neither of the genera of two other families, which can be separated out by their having only three toes, and those united as far as the claws. Our next group consisted of the three-toed birds with the web extending only as far as the second joint. There is only one family ‘y answering this description, and that is the @dzcne- mida@, which has in our list but one genus, Zaicnemus, and that with only one species. We are thus able to identify the Stone Curlew by its foot alone. Our third group with three toes has its toes united at the base, or practically anywhere below the second joint; and our fourth has the toes entirely free, without any webs at all. We can make as short work of the fourth as we did of the second. There is only one family in the list with three toes unconnected by a membrane, and that is the Zusnzczde, repre- sented by the one genus Zwzn/x, and that by its one species, known as the Andalusian Bush Quail, or Hemipode, which is only admitted as a Britisher under protest. SORTATION. 33 We have only one three-toed group left. To it belong the Bustards, the Otzdide, which have their toes edged with a membrane; the Sanderling, which is the one representative of the genus Ca/drzs, the only genus of the Scolopa- cide which has but three toes; and last and chiefly the whole family of Plovers, or Charadrifde, with the exception of the Grey Plover, the Turn- stone, and the Lapwing. From the Plovers the Sanderling is at once distinguishable by its x, having its bill as long as its head, and having it ‘ dilated at the point ; while the Plover’s bill is not dilated at the point, and is always either longer or shorter than the head. And thus by taking out the birds of prey and the birds with three toes we have got rid of eight families out of thirty-five, and claimed eight genera out of four more. But before we consider the four-toed class, which comprises the bulk of the birds, British and otherwise, it would be as well to produce our example, which it would not have done to have brought forward before, inasmuch as it is only too plain that he is not a bird of prey, and that he has more than three toes. Here he is, mapped out as far as it is necessary for him to be at present, and it would be as well to identify his “districts.” Here are his “primaries ”and his “secondaries,” and, at the upper angle, the “alula” or “bas- tard wing” we have already spoken of. On the top of the “remiges,” or flight feathers, come the “wing coverts,”and over them come the “lesser coverts.” Between the wing and the back come the shoulder fea- thers, or “scapu- lars,” and at the base of the back come the “upper tail coverts,” from beneath which run the “rectrices,” or tail feathers. Above the back is the neck with the ‘‘ nape,” which bears the ‘“‘nuchal” feathers, the “occiput,” or poll, the “ crown,” already spoken of as being bare in the Vulturidze, and the “forehead,” just above the beak and in front of the eyes. TAL an meermisne, But let us turn him over. Here we see that the “lore” is between the eye and the beak, and that the “chin” is just underneath the 34 SORTATION, beak, leading on to the f “throat,” which in turn nema leads on to the “breast.” Below this is the lower breast, bordered by the “flanks,” and then comes the abdomen, ending with the “under tail coverts,” from under which come the tail feathers, whose upper side we have already seen. Again we have the primaries and _ se- condaries, with the con- spicuous break between them, leading up to the carpal joint, the “under wing coverts” being along the top; and on VANE Se meta ERG. what answer to our armpits are the bird’s “axillaries” we shall find so useful in identification when we have to deal with genera and species. The legs will be seen to correspond to human legs, much inthe same way as the wings did to arms. The “femur,” or thigh bone, is short and is well up; and the knee, with its “patella,” comes above where the wing crosses in the sketch. Below it is the “tibia,” which has the fibula as part of it, and then comes what is often called the bird’s knee, but which you can at once see, from the way it bends inwards, must be its ankle, and which is really in its upper portion the tibio- tarsus ; from the knee to the foot runs what is known in the bird books as the “ tarsus,” though it is really the tarso-metatarsus; but the point is of no practical importance in our present endeavour. Below the tarsus come the toes; the hallux, answering to our great toe, at - the back; then the inner toe, coming from between the legs outwards; then the middle toe; and the fourth or outer toe. The fifth toe is missing in the birds; when there are but three toes it is the representative of our great toe which has gone; when there are but two toes, as with the Ostrich, it is the second and third that remain. The normal number of phalanges or toe joints is 14, two being in the hind toe, three in the inner toe, four in the middle toe, and five in the outer toe. As we go on we shall find that these numbers vary. But enough of this for a time; we are now strong enough in terms to begin our attack on the four-toed birds. And we cannot begin better than by eliminating the Pelecanidez, which have not only four well developed toes, but have these toes all webbed together up to the claws, being “totipalmate,” as it is called. That one distinction separates the Cormorant, Shag, and Gannet, the only representatives we have of the group, from every other family in the British list. ee eUNOEE Wine CovenTE ly Ay, iby, SORTATION. 35 We can form another group of the birds which have p webbed on to the tarsus. Under this heading would come the Colymbide, or Divers; and one repre- sentative of the Laride, the Ivory Gull, which is our only species of the genus Pagopfhila, There is no difficulty in distinguishing the Gull from a Diver, for he is an entirely white bird, and he has long wings, while the Divers have shott wings, and he has a decurved bill, while their bill is compressed or higher than it is broad. We have now to deal with the birds that have the hind toe free. We can divide these into four groups: 1.—Those that have the three toes united as far as the claws. 2.—Those that have the three toes united as far as the second joint. 3.--Those that have the two united as far as the second joint and two as far as the first. 4.—Those that have the three united near the base. To the first group there belong— Pheenicopteridze. Laridee (all that are left. Ibididae. Procellariidee (all that are left). Anatidee. The Phenicopteride have one representative. He is the Flamingo His webs are cut into a good deal, but still his feet are undoubtedly webbed to the claws. And really it does not matter. No one is likely to mistake our sample bird for a Flamingo, and the sooner he goes the better. In the /d¢d/de we have another case of “sole representative in this district.” This is the Ibis, with long, slender, down-curved bill ; not the Scarlet Ibis, but the “Glossy,” or bronzy one, a very unlikely bird to meet with in the fenland now, and recognisable at once as soon as seen. We have Vy now but three families left, and these are of real importance. To say nothing of the occasionally lobed hind toe, and the extra lobe in some cases on m the front of the foot, the Anatidz, comprising the Ducks, Geese, and Swans, are separable from the rest by their bill, which is either toothed, as in Mergus, or else lamellate. The Gulls have their bill neither toothed nor lamellate, and in that respect 8} resemble the Petrels; but then the Petrels have a nail at the end of their bill, which the Gulls have not; and the nostrils of a Petrel are in a tube, while those of a Gull have no such arrangement. The three main families of the “ palmate” division are thus marked off with ease, and we can resume the main line with our second group, that including the birds which have three of their four toes webbed as far as the second joint. There are not many such birds. The Spoonbill is 30 SORTATION, one. He is the sole representative on our list of the Plataleide, and with him we bid farewell to another family. His spatulate bill distinguishes him from every other bird. The Scolopacide are represented in this group of ours by one species only, and that also, curiously enough, is recognisable at once by its bill, which is long and narrow, and curving upwards. There is no trouble in identifying either the Spoonbill and the Avocet, although the latter’s web may, exceptionally, stretch a little beyond the second joint. To this group the only other birds that belong are the Parma, or Tits, a sub-family of the Passeridz; but it will be sufficient for the moment to have mentioned them. We will leave the Passeridz as the loose ends of our fabric, and pick them up and deal with them by themselves in due course. Our next group includes the birds which have two of their toes united as far as the second joint, and two united as far as the first. To this group we can assign but two families—the Kingfishers and the Bee-eaters, otherwise Alcedinide and Meropide. There is no difficulty in separating these. The King- fishers have short tails, the Bee-eaters have long tails ; the Kingfishers have a ridged beak, the Bee-eaters have no ridge; and, if it be necessary to go into details, the Kingfishers have 22 remiges while the Bee-eaters have 23. We are left with the last group in which three toes are united, and in this case the web extends only a little beyond the base. The most familiar example of this kind of foot is found among the Phaszanide, which family is mace up of most of the game birds—the Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, Quail, and Ptarmigan. Let our representa- tive foot be that of a Pheasant, which is recognisable by its spur. The Phasianidz have short legs and short bills, and a curious peculiarity of their’s is that the eleventh remex—that is, flight feather—is always shorter than any of the others. The short legs and short bill sufficiently distinguish the Phasianidz from the Czconzide, another member of this group. The Ciconiidz consist merely of the two Storks, the black one and the white one, neither of which is a Briton by birth or a frequent visitor. With these come three more families—the Cafrimu/gid@, the Charadriide in respect of the three genera already excepted, and the Scolopactde, in respect of the Black-winged Stilt, the Woodcock, the Red-breasted Snipe, the Broad-billed Sandpiper, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and the Cur- lews and Whimbrel, all of which we will sort out by-and-bye. To the Caprimulgidz belong the Nightjars, whose gaping bill at auhuwm once marks them off from the rest of the group. Another tite characteristic mark of the Nightjars is the foot, which has the phalanges of the toes as 2, 3, 4, 3, instead of 2, 3, 4, 5, as usual; in another way they are recognisable SORTATION,. 37 from the other families with whom we have brought them, by their having only to tail feathers; and finally their curious comb-like yw, middle claw will betray them anywhere even if their bill } did not. There is, therefore, no difficulty in separating the Ciconiide, the Phasianidee, and the Caprimulgidz ; nor is there any with regard to the remainder of the ‘Charadriidz in this division. They consist of three ‘genera only, each containing but one species. The Grey Plover is known at once by his white tail broadly barred with black and brown, the Lapwing is at once detected by his long crest, as the Turnstone is by his orange legs. We have only one group left in which the feet are united by membranes. To it belong the whole of four families and certain , representatives of the Scolopacide and Pas- seridge, the two families in which the feet give us so much trouble because the foot is no Y basis of classification. These four are — Ardeidz (the Herons), Gruidee (the Cranes). Glareolidz (the Pratincole), Upupide (the Hoopoe). Here we can pick out the Hoopoe at once; his erectile crest distinguishes him. And the Pratincole need not linger in the list; his short bill, short legs, forked tail, and long wings are sufficiently distinctive. With regard to the Cranes and Herons we can divide them on their middle claw, which is smooth in the Cranes and pectinate in the Herons ; but the long pendent secondary feathers of the Cranes at once mark them off from the Herons, even if their shorter beak did not. The genera of the Scolopacide are at once recognisable by their long thin bills; and when we come to deal with the Scolopacidee as a family by itself, we shall have no difficulty in sorting out Yotanus, Machetes, Bartramia, and Zzmosa,; and the few Passerines that come into the group we can leave as we did before till the final settlement. It will be remarked that we have completed every family we have yet mentioned except the Scolopacidz and Passeride, which we agreed to treat exceptionally; and that we have now dealt with all the families in which the feet are united, and including the birds of prey, have eliminated from our thirty-five families :— Strigide. Pheenicopterida, Vulturide. Ibidide. Falconide, Anatida. Alcide. Plataleida., Laride. Alcedinida. Pteroclide. Meropide. Procellariide. Ciconiidee. C&dicnemide. Phasianide. Otidide. Caprimulgide. Charadriida. Ardeida. Turnicide. Gruidee. Pelecanida, Glareolida. Colymbide. Upupidae. 38 SORTATION. And we have left in for further treatment certain species of Scolopacidze and Passeridz. We have not said much of our sample bird as yet, for it is evident from his portrait that his feet are not webbed at all, and consequently we have been dealing with groups to which he could not possibly belong. Neither can he belong to our next group in @ which the feet are webbed to each other in peculiar lobes. The best example of a lobed foot is that of a Grebe. It is so unlike anything else that the Podic?pedide are as easy of recognition as the Pelecanide. This broad flat foot is the paddle by which the Eo bird propels itself when under water; for, unlike PXtheAGeE the Alcide, the Podicipedide do not use their a WA wings in their sub-aqueous explorings. There are 4s" no representatives of either of these families that dive as men dive; the Auks really fly under water, the Grebes really swim, keeping at any depth, and working in and out among the sub- merged plants as expertly as a Duck does among the leaves that rise above the surface. In both families the legs are placed so far back that the bird stands upright like a Penguin, There are only three families in which lobed feet are found, and it is only in the Podicipedid that the peculiarity is common to every species. Among the Rallide there are two genera, each with a single species, which have lobed feet. These are the Coot and the Moorhen, the former of which has the lobes in broad scallops, a foot so remarkable that it cannot be mistaken for that of any other bird on the British list. The Coot has two marks which make his recognition the easiest of tasks. If you do not know him by his broadly lobed foot, you will know him by the white shield on his forehead, which a facetious naturalist has described as being as useful as a brass plate. The other representative of the Rallidz, and the last of the birds with lobed feet, is the Moorhen. In this case they are not so well marked as in the others, but narrow as they may be they are clearly distinguishable, and not likely to be mistaken for the membranes we have previously noted. And they are unlike the narrowly denticulate lobes of Phalaropus, which is the only genus of the Scolopacide that comes into this group. We have now to deal with the four-toed birds which have their feet entirely divided from the base. These naturally fall into three groups :— “1. Having four toes in front. 2. Having two toes in front and two behind. 3. Having three toes in front. And to the last—the “three fingers and a thumb” brigade--belong our most familiar birds, including our example. SORTATION. 39 But first for the others. There is only one family having its four toes in front. This is the Cypsel¢d@ in respect of the one genus, Cypselus, of which the only representatives are the Swifts. There are two Swifts in the list, one of which, the Alpine one, is never known to breed here, and is a very infrequent visitor; so that, practically, we have only one bird with four toes in front. The Cypselidz have, however, another genus, Acanthyllis. in which three toes are in front, in the ordinary way ; but we shall have that exception to deal with presently. Some birds have two toes in front and two behind. Amongst us, this “zygodactyle” group is represented by the Wood- peckers and Cuckoos. The distinction, like most of those we have been giving, only holds good for the birds on the British list, for some of the foreign Woodpeckers have only three toes. The Cuckoos belong to the Cucudide, and the Woodpeckers to the Pzcéd@; and, while the Cuculide can be at once recognised by their long graduated tail, the Picidze are as readily recognisable by their long wedge- shaped bill and long extensile and bristly tongue. We have now reached the last of our divisions as regards the feet. The families remaining to be dealt with are only half a dozen in number. They are :— Cypselidz, in respect of the one genus Acanthyliis. Coraciidze, which has only one representative, the Roller. Columbidz, the Pigeons. Rallidz, in respect of the genera Crex and Rallus. Scolopacidze, in respect of the genera Zrzmga and Gallinago. Passeridz, in respect of all its genera as yet unmentioned. To one of these groups our bird belongs. It does not belong to the first, for that consists only of the one genus and one species, the Needle-tailed Swift, only two specimens of which have ever been heard of here, and which is known at once by its having its tail feathers ending in sharp spines. It does not belong to the next, for that also has only one representative, the Roller, which is a brightly coloured bird, not unlike a Parrot in Oxford and Cambridge blues, whereas ours is mere brown and grey. It does not belong to the third, for it is not a Pigeon ; its bill is not deflected, nor does it thin in the middle, and swell towards the point ; nor has it its nostrils in a soft skin at the base of the bill. It is not a Crake, for its beak is neither short nor stout, nor are its wings rounded, nor its feet large, nor its legs or tail short. It is not a Snipe, nor a Stint, nor a Sandpiper, for that is what the only remaining genera of the Scolopacide represent. And as it is neither assignable to Cypselida, nor Coraciidz, nor Columbidz, nor Rallidz, nor Scolopacide, the only family that can claim it is the Passeridze, which is the most important family of birds, not only in Great Britain, but in the world. Thus far, then, have we gone with the feet. By leaving the Passerines for special treatment and eliminating the birds of prey we have been enabled to sort out all the families in our list. And before we proceed further it will simplify matters to print the plan we have worked to in tabular form. CHAPTER V. THE FAMILIES, APTORES, or Birds of Prey; with powerful claws, sharp curving bill, and a cere at the base of the bill. STRIGID (Owls)—head large, face round, eyes in front. 161-170. VULTURIDZ& (Vultures)—crown bald or downy. 171-172. FALCONID# (Eagles and Hawks)—crown feathered. 173-198. NON-RAPTORES— 1. With three toes. 2. With four toes. Three toes— 1. United as far as the claws. 2. United as far as the second joint. 3. United at base. 4. Divided throughout. United as far as the claws— AuLcip# (Auks, Guillemots, Puffin, and Razorbill)—wings fin- like ; tail rudimentary. 373-379. LARID& (in respect of most specimens of the genus Réssa, the Kittiwake)—wings long, remiges 31 ; tail not wedge shaped. 367. PTEROCLID# (Pallas’s Sand Grouse)—wings long ; tail wedge shaped and of 16 feathers. 268. PROCELLARIID (in respect of the one genus Oceanttes, Wilson’s Petrel)—legs long. 398. United as far as the second joint— CEDICNEMID& (Stone Curlew)—remiges 29. 290. United near base— OTIDID& (Bustards)—toes edged with membrane. 287-289. CHARADRIID& (Plovers, with the exception of the Grey Plover, Turnstone, and Lapwing)—bill longer or shorter than head and not dilated at point. 292-295, 297-300, 303. SCOLOPACID# (in respect of the one genus Caldris, the Sanderling)—bill as long as head and dilated at point. 324. Divided throughout— TURNICID# (Andalusian Bush Quail). 277. Four toes— , 1. Four united. 2. Three united ; one webbed to tarsus. 3. Three united ; hind toe free. 4. Two united. 5. Lobed. 6 . Divided throughout. THE FAMILIES. 41 Four united— PELECANID& (Cormorant, Gannet, and Shag)—hbill long; tarsus compressed ; third claw pectinate. 199-201. Three united ; one webbed to tarsus. COLYMBID& (Divers)—wings short ; bill compressed. 380-383. Laripé (in respect of the one genus Pagophila, the Ivory Gull)—wings long ; bill decurved. 368. Three united ; hind toe free— 1. As far as the claws. 2. As far as the second joint. 3. Two as far as the second joint and two as far as the first. 4. Near base. As far as the claws— PHCNICOPTERIDA (Flamingo)—webs incised ; bill bent half way. 216. IBIDID& (Ibis)—bill long, slender, and decurved, point rounded; 27 remiges. 215. ANATIDA (Ducks, Geese, and Swans) —bill broad, and lamellate, or toothed. 217-262. LaRID& (Gulls and Terns, except the Kittiwake and Ivory Gull)—bill neither lamellate nor toothed, and without a nail; fourth toe rudimentary. 341-366. PROCELLARUD& (Petrels and Shearwaters)— nostrils in a tube ; bill unserrate and ending in a nail. 389-398. As far as the second joint— PLATALEID& (Spoonbill)—bill spatulate ; 30 remiges. 214. SCOLOPACID& (in respect of the one genus, Recurvzrostra, the Avocet)—bill boldly curving upwards. 304. PASSERID& (in respect of the Parine)—very small birds, for which see analysis further on. Two as far as the second joint and two as far as the first— ALCEDINID (Kingfishers)—upper mandible ridged ; remiges 22; tail short. 151, 152. MEROPID (Bee-eaters)—upper mandible net ridged; remiges 23; taillong. 154, 155. Near base— CicoNnuD# (Storks)—long bill; over 30 remiges; long legs. 212, 213. PHASIANID& (Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, Quail, and Ptarmi- gan)—short bill; eleventh remex shortest ; short legs. 269-276. CAPRIMULGIDA (Nightjars)—gaping bill; 1o tail feathers ; middle toe pectinate ; phalanges 2, 3, 4, 3. I41-143. CHARADRIID& (in respect of the Grey Plover which has a white tail broadly barred with black and brown, the Lapwing which has a crest, and the Turnstone which has orange legs). 296, 301, 302. SCOLOPACID& (in respect of the Black-winged Stilt, the Wood- cock, the Red-breasted Snipe, the Broad-billed Sandpiper, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and the Curlews and Whim- brel. 308, 312, 313, 325, 338-340. Two united— ARDEID& (Herons and Bitterns)—bill long and straight ; legs long and straight ; middle claw pectinate. 202-211. D 42 THE FAMILIES. GRUID& (Cranes)—bill moderate ; 33 remiges ; secondaries long and pendent; legs long, middle claw not pectinate. 285, 286. GLAREOLID& (Pratinco’e)—bill short; wings long ; legs short; tail forked. 291. Upupip& (Hoopoe)—erectile crest ; remiges 20. 156. | SCOLOPACID# (in respect of the Ruff, Bartram’s Sandpiper, the Godwits, and the genus 7o/anws)—long slender bill. 323, 326-337. 2 : : PASSERID# (in respect of certain genera as given in the special analysis of that family). Lobed— : PODICIPEDID (Grebes)—lobes pennate and entire; tail ru- dimentary and downy ;_ tarsus compressed. 384-388. RALLID& (in respect of the Coot and Moorhen, the former of which has the lobes broadly scalloped, the latter having them straight and narrow). 284, 283. SCOLOPACIDA (in respect of the genus Phalaropus)—lobes narrowly denticulate. 307. Divided throughout— 1. Four in front. 2. Two in front, two behind. 3. Three in front. Four in front— CYPSELIDA (in respect of the genus Cyfse/us, the Swift. 138, 139. ; Two in front, two behind— C1CIDA (Woodpeckers and Wryneck)—long bill ; long extensile and bristled tongue. 144-149. CUCULID& (Cuckoos)—long graduated tail. 157-160. Three in front— CYPSELID (in respect of the Needletailed Swift)— tail feathers with sharp spines. 140. CoRACHD (Roller)—bill compressed; upper mandible de- curved at tip; 23 remiges; tarsus scutellate in front, reticulate at back. 153. COLUMBID (Pigeons) — bill deflected, thinnest in middle, expanding towards point ; nostrils in soft skin at base of biil: feathers without aftershafts; no down; second primary longest. 263-267. RALLID (Crakes, except the Coot and Moorhen)—short stout beak ; rounded wings; large feet; short legs; short tail. 278-282. SCOLOPACIDA (in respect of the genera Gallinago and Tringa)—long slender bill. 309-311, 314-322. PASSERIDA. [-147. CHAPTER VI. EXAMPLES OF IDENTIFICATION, oo i> sorting out the British passerine birds we can simplify matters considerably by beginning with four sub-families which are represented by only one species each, which species is almost certain to be recognised immediately. These are :— Oriolinz. Panurine. Icterina. Ampelinz. Is our sample bird a bright-yellow one, like a large canary with black wings, and a black tipped tail? Is it in fact a Golden Oriole ? No; it is not. And as the Golden Oriole is the only species we have of Ortolus, which is our only repvesentative of its sub-family, we can at once eliminate Orioline. Is it a glossy black bird, with bright scarlet wing coverts? No. The only bird like that in the British list is a rare, and vrobably escaped, American, known as the Red-winged Starling, w: i:h is a species of Agelgus, and our only representative of its sub-family ; and conse- quently we need not further trouble ourselves with Ictering. Is our bird a little fellow with a rufous tail over three inches long, and much longer than the rest of his body, and has he in full plumage a black pointed moustache, which, though obscure at some periods of the year, is always traceable? No. Our bird is quite two inches longer, his tail is not as long as his body, and he has no moustache at all. In short, no one would imagine he was a Bearded Tit; and with its sole representative we have done with the Panurine. Has he a bold erectile crest like a Cockatoo, and has he red waxy tips to his secondary feathers or his tail? No. Then he is nota Waxwing; and the Waxwing is the only species we have of the Ampelina. There is another sub-family we can bracket with these, and that is the Cincling, which is represented by only one genus Céxclus, which has two species, one differing from the other only in the greater blackness of its breast. These Dippers as they are called, are, however, so distinct from the rest of our birds, that they are at once re- cognisable. Their plumage is blackish brown, dense and fibrous, and, as befitting the only passerine water birds, they are provided with a thick undercoat of down, which some people are inclined to describe as the only true down in the order. That, however, is open to discussion. For our purposes it is enough to know that the foregoing five sub-families are unmistakable, and that our specimen belongs to neither of them. D2 44 IDENTIFICATION. We have 15 sub-families left. These we can sort out on the com- parative length of the first primary, which is always narrow among the Passerines. In some of our group this first primary, which must not be mistaken for the remicle, is absent altogether, in others it is just apparent, in others it is almost halfas long as the second primary, jn others it is more than half as long as the second primary. We can thus, for the purposes of identification, separate the birds we have left into three divisions :— 1. Having the first primary quite half as long as the second. 2. Having the first primary obsolete or minute. 3. Having the first primary less than half as long as the second. Of the first division we had a capital example in our typical wing on page 31. ‘There are only two Passerine sub-families which have wings like that. One is the Corvéne, comprising the Raven, the Crow, the Jackdaw, Magpie, Jay, and Nutcracker ; and the other is the Troglodyting, which has as its only representative the well-known Jenny Wren. Now, no one is likely to mistake the diminutive Wren, which is one of the smallest birds we have, for one of the Coruvine. If the size were not enough to prevent the mistake, the: long soft plumage, the erect little tail, and the con- cave wings, compared to the flat wings of the larger birds, would at once remove all difficulty in recognitior. Our 15 sub-families have thus be- come 13, and these we can separate into six of one and seven of the other. Let us take the six first. Here is the typical wing of this group. It is that of a Skylark. See how small the first primary is to what it was in the wing of the Rook. In some of the Finches, as we shall see immediately, this feather is absent altogether ; and in none of our six is it a quarter as long as the second. The six are :— Sturninee (the Starlings). Fringiltinae (the Finches). Emberizinz (the Buntings). Hirundininz (the Swallows). Motacillinee (the Wagtails). Alaudinze (the Larks). Let us consider these in order. Does our bird belong to the fringilline 2 Is he like a Sparrow, Passer himself—whence the Passerines etymologically—is he like a Canary; a Goldfinch; a Bullfinch ; a Greenfinch; a Chaffinch; a Linnect; a Crossbill? Has he that peculiar beak, hard, short, and conical? No. Then he is not one of the Fringilline. We need not have looked at his wing in this case ; the beak alone would have been enough. Is hea Bunting? But how can you tell a Bunting from a Finch? Look at the gape line. Look at the head side- ways, and see the sharp angle with which the upper mandible shuts on the lower. In the Finches, as in all the sub-families that follow, as you can see by their heads, this line is straight. But there is another distinction between the Finches and the Buntings, and IDENTIFICATION, 45 the one that separates the Buntings out at once. That is, the knobbed palate, that has been made so prominent in our sketch. Open the bird’s mouth, and look in the roof of it. The “Bunting knob” is unmistakable. Our bird has no knob, and his gape line is straight. Evidently he is not one of the Emberizinze. Is he a Wagtail or a Pipit? Has he a narrow, slender bill, long legs, and a long tail? Certainly not. He is not built lightly enough or gracefully enough for that group. He is not one of the Motacilline. Is he a Starling? Is his plumage shining and metallic in lustre and spotted? If not we can pass the Sturninz. Is he a Swallow? Look at his head from above. Is his beak as short and wide as this? Is he a Swallow, a Martin, a Sand Martin? Has he short legs, long wings, and a forked tail? No. Then he is not one of the Hirundinine. Is he a Lark? Look at his legs. Is his tarsus plated back and front? No. Then he is not a Lark, and we can clear the track of the Alaudinz, and try back for our last division. In this the first primary is about as long as the coverts. Even should there be a difficulty in separating between this and the preceding, it will be found that the characteristics of the sub-families are so clear that the two divisions could very well have been treated as one. At the same time were the thirteen wings before you, you would easily sort out the seven that follow :— Certhiinze (the Creepers). Muscicapinze (the Flycatchers), Laniinz (the Shrikes). Sittinze (the Nuthatch). Parinze (the Tits). Accentorinz (the Accentors). Turdinze (the Thrushes and Warblers). There are only two of the Creepers. One is the Wall Creeper, our Wy sole representative of 7zchodroma, and of him only two Wy) specimens are on record in this country. He is a slaty grey bird, with grey and crimson wings. The other Creeper is the common one, a little fellow, spotted brown above and whitish below, with a long curved slender bill, a rounded tail, with its feathers pointed, and a long curved hind claw. Evidently our bird is not a Creeper; and we can pass Certhiinze, 46 IDENTIFICATION. Is he a Flycatcher? Look at his bill. Is it broad and flat, with bristles at its base? Is it such a bill, in fact, as he would catch flies with when he is on the wing? Are his nostrils partly hidden under the frontal plumes? Are his toes all free of each other, and the middle one much longer than the rest? Has he small feet? . p Is his wing long and pointed, and with the second primary a trifle shorter than the third, fourth, and fifth, which are longer than any of the others? If not we can pass on from Muscicapine. : Is he a Shrike? Has he a short bill with a tooth in it, as if he could be a bird of prey on occasion ; has he a good deal of soft slaty grey in his plumage ; are two of his toes united, the middle toe with the outer? Has he forward pointing hairs at the base of his bill? Is his middle toe shorter than his tarsus? Are his nostrils oval? Is his third primary longer than the others? No. Then he cannot be assigned to the Laniinz. Is he a Nuthatch? Has he a long straight bill like this? Is hea bluish little fellow, with his two middle tail ; feathers grey, and pale brown legs with strong and clumsy feet? No. Then he is « not one of the Sittinz, for the Nuthatch is our only representative of that sub-family. Is he a Tit? Are his three front toes united as far as the second joint, and is his hind claw long? No. He is too big for a Tit, even for a Great Tit, and he has no black apron which would distinguish him if he were. We have only two groups left. One, the Accentorinz, has only two representatives, the Hedge Sparrow and the Alpine Accentor, one of which has the throat bluish grey, while the other has it white, with black spots. He is too large for either of these, even if his bill were strong enough and his wings rounded enough. That he should be the Alpine bird is unlikely, for only a few stragglers of that species come over here. That he might be a Hedge Sparrow is more reasonable, but then everyone knows the Hedge Sparrow. And as we have thus eliminated twelve of our groups, our representative specimen can only belong to the thirteenth and last. He is either a Thrush or a Warbler. But suppose we have made a mistake? Then we shall soon find it out, as we should have found it had we allocated him to any of the other families or sub-families ; for our scheme is so arranged that if we take the wrong road we shall soon come to “no thoroughfare,” and have to return and try somewhere else down the line. This time, however, we have been right in disregarding the junctions, and following the main line of the plan given in our next chapter. Our bird, then, is one of the Turdinz, and we have discovered what he is by separating him from what he is not. Let us pursue that method. To what genus of the Turdine does he belong? IDENTIFICATION. 47 Open his wing and look at his armpits. Are his axillary feathers chequzred? No. Then he is no Gevctchla; he is not a White’s Thrush nor a Siberian Thrush, and he would be a rarity if he were. Are his axillaries black? No. Then he is not a Blackbird or a Ring Ouzel. Perhaps they are yellow, and he has an unspotted breast ; if so, his genus is either Phyl/oscopus or Hypolais; Phylloscopus if his legs are brown, Hypolais if his legs are blue. But his axillaries are not yellow and his breast is not unspotted. Are his axillaries buff? Has he a buff breast, a reddish brown back, a reddish brown tail ; is he, in short, a Nightingale? No. He is not a Nightingale ; and he is thus unclaimed by five genera. Now let us try him in another way. Is his chin red ; and is his lower breast white? No. He is not a Robin Redbreast. Is his chin chestnut and his lower breast chestnut? No. He is not a Dartford Warbler. Two more genera are eliminated. The next we might have started with. Has hea bright yellow crest? No. Heisnota Gold-crest or a Fire-ciest ; and no one would have supposed so from his size. Perhaps he is a Rufous Warbler? If so his head and back would be chestnut, his breast buff; his tail rounded and long, and tipped with white ; and he would have been the fourth specimen on record. Evidently he is not Aédon. Has he a white rump, black legs, unnotched bill? Is he a Savricola, in fact? No. He is not a Wheatear. Has he a whitish rump, black legs, a notched bill, anda short square tail ; is he a Pratincola? No. He is neither a Stone- chat nor a Whinchat. Has hea bright blue throat? No. He is not a Cyanecula, Has hea bluish grey head, a black bill, and a chestnut breast? No. There was only one bird ever seen like that in this country. He is not a Monticola; and so far we have tried him in vain for 13 genera, and we have only five to run him down in. Has he a black throat anda red tail, with black or brown on its two middle feathers; is he a Ruticilla? No. He is not one of the Redstarts. Is his bill without rictal bristles, are his axillaries brown, and is his tail pointed and shorter than the wing? No. That com- bination will not suit him. He is not a Locustel/a. Are his axillaries whitish, is his bill large in proportion to his head, and depressed and broad at the base, and is his tail short and rather round? No. That combination will not do. We cannot get rid of him in Acrocephalus. But we have only two left ! How long is he? Over seven inches—over eight really. Then he cannot belong to Sy/véa,he must belong to Zurdus. That is one way out of the difficulty, certainly. But suppose he were an under- sized specimen ? Then, if he were assignable to Sylvia, his bill would be faintly notched, and very short and stout, but not broad at the base, his breast would be plain or barred, his wings would be moderate in size, his first primary would be noticeably less than half the length of the second, and his tail would be ashy or brown and white. And as our specimen does not meet these requirements, all we can say is that his genus must be Zurduws. And if we look on pages 73 and 74, we can try him again through the tabular analysis of the Zurdine. But to what species of Turdus does he belong? Let us analyse the species and tabulate them, as we shall have to tabulate all the 48 IDENTIFICATION, species, and for ready reference arrange them in the alphabetical order of their genera. Is our bird black with a red breast? No. He is not migratorius, and it would have been a wonder if he were. Has hea black throat and breast? No. He would have been the third of his kind to be caught in this country if he had. He is not a¢végularis. Turn him_ over and look at his axillaries. Are they red? No. He is nota~ Redwing. Are they white? No. He is not a Ficldfare nor a Missel Thrush; and if he were a Fieldfare he would have a blue rump. What colour are his axillaries? Pale yellow. That alone will distinguish him. He is olive brown above and whitish below, with a number of triangular brown spots and streaks about him. In fact, he is Z. musicus, otherwise the common Song Thrush, whom recent classifiers have promoted to the second place on the British list. And now, with a view to advancing beyond the mere knowledge of the bird’s name, let us take the feathers off our Thrush. These chiefly consist of the penne, or contour feathers, which are so- called from their giving the outline of the body. They are exposed to the light. The other feathers, ~the down feathers, are hidden from the light. In the contour feathers we have a main stem or axis, the wvexillum, or vane, divided into the solid four- sided shaft or vachzs, and the hollow, somewhat rounded hollow end, we know as the quill, or cala- mus, which ends in a small aperture through which it receives the vascular pulp. With the sac in which this is embedded are connected the muscles which give the feathers motion. The vane bears the plates, or dards, which are linked together at their free ends by the Jardzles, which are again generally interlinked by hooklets. In the Ostrich we have free barbs, and, consequently, loose plumes, but the case is exceptional. In a good many birds each quill has two vanes, one being the shaft, the other the aftershaft, which always springs from the underside; and, occasionally, shaft aie, aere ate are almost equal, and a “double feather” is the result. The down feathers, hidden from the light in adults, are the first feathers of the young bird which are generally replaced by the penne, and their barbs invariably remain soft and free. In some birds we have a third kind of feather, one with a long shaft and a sort of brush of barbs ; this is a “filoplume.” In the Ardeidx, and in some of the Falconide, there is a fourth kind of feather, the summit of which IDENTIFICATION. 49 breaks off into fine dust as fast as it is formed. Sometimes these feathers are scattered all over the body, but in many cases they are in well defined positions which are known as “ powder down tracts,” and these tracts are of considerable use in identifying the Herons, for instance. Just as the powder down is distributed in tracts, so are the contour feathers, except in the case of the Ostriches and their allies, and the Penguins and a few more birds. That the feathers should be arranged in a definite pattern was to be expected. If the body were feathered evenly it would hamper the bird in its movements. The coat is in fact made to fit, and is cut in such a way as to be workable by the muscles. These “tracts,” with their resulting spaces, which were worked out by Nitzsch, are of considerable importance in ornithology, and promise to be of more importance in the future; and we have, in consequence, given two sketches of our thrush ; the first dorsal, the second ventral, with the Bay swatiaes seeets chief tracts and spaces marked out. poe" Most birds have a spinal 3s. or dorsal tract, a humeral or i shoulder tract, a femoral or padesniecs press lumbar tract, and what is known as the inferior tract ; some of them have a neck tract; and besides these, are the head tract, the alar or wing tract, the crural or leg tract, and the caudal tract. The spaces are the laterals of the neck, the laterals of the trunk, and the inferior lateral; and besides these, the more or less common spaces are the spinal, the upper wing, the lower wing, the crural, and the head. The spinal tract is occasionally bordered below with a row of feathers, as in the Woodpeckers. Sometimes it is weak at the nape, as with the Kingfisher. Inthe Golden Oriole it is widened on the back into an ellipse. In the Crows and Larks it has a space within its boundaries. In the Woodpeckers, including the Wryneck, and in the Swallows it has twolobes. In the Pheasant, the Partridge, and the Quail it is well marked and continuous, and narrow on the neck, but widening from the shoulder blades ; while in the Capercaillie it is cleft where it broadens by a longitudinal space from the shoulders upwards. On the other hand, in many birds of prey, it is interrupted at the ends of the shoulder blades, the anterior part becoming wider, and the lower part becoming narrower. And a further variation occurs among the Plovers and Sandpipers, where the hinder part is cleft throughout. The humeral tract, in the Passerine birds, runs nearly over the middle of the humerus, but in the Pigeons it crosses much nearer the 50 IDENTIFICATION. shoulder blade. In the Swifts, Kingfishers, and Hoopoe the femoral tract extends from the extreme end of the ischium to the knee ; but in the Bee-eaters it reaches neither the knee nor the pelvis. The ventral tract is generally unbroken, but in the Cranes and Curlews it has along branch. In the Passerines, as shown by our Thrush, it ts a narrow strip with four branches. Probably few but cooks and poulterers know to what narrow spaces a bird’s feathers are confined ; and fewer still are aware that the pattern of the tracts is an aid in identification. In Nitzsch’s “ Pterylography” there are a number of maps of feather distribution, to which those taking an interest in the subject should refer ; and in the Central Hall of the Natural History Museum, at South Kensington, will be found our typical Thrush, with a large number of examples of bird structure and plumage—an admirable arrangement which every one should visit, as they should also visit the Bird Museum at Brighton, once Mr. Booth’s and now the Corporation’s, out on the Dyke Road, a mile from the Jubilee Clock Tower. But are there no other means of identifying a bird? Yes; by his flight. But how can you classify flight? It is as difficult as classifying a man’s gait, which is just as unmistakable once you know it. In our notes we have endeavoured to give as good an idea of the flight as we could, but we are conscious of the feebleness of our effort. And so with the syllabisations of the song. Attempts have been made to reduce the song to musical form, but those who have tried over such things even on the flute and piccolo and flageolet, know what a burlesque is the result. The nearest approach to it is got by a series of whistles, one for each bird, artificial syringes in fact, for a bird’s voice dees not come from his larynx but from his syrinx lower down. Another means of identifying birds is by measurement. That we have done our best to encourage by a table, which is the result of a large number of observations and some two thousand calculations, and which took more time than anything else in our little book. If this is used in addition to the analyses and keys, there will be few failures in identification. The eggs we have dealt with ina similar manner, and we would have added the nests had we been able to discover a workable system of sorting. There are several well- defined types of nests. There is the Sand Martin’s nest, for instance, which is a burrow, such as is used by the Kingfisher and others ; there is the Duck’s nest made on the ground; there is the floating nest such as is made by the Grebe; there is the mud nest such as is made by the Thrush and the House Martin; there is the nest in a tree trunk bored by the Woodpeckers ; there is the flat nest of the Ring Dove, and the Stork ; there is the cave nest of the Rock Dove: there are the woven nests of so many of our small birds, the basket nests of the Crows, the felted nests of the Dippers, the bottle nest of the Tits, and the domed nests of so many other birds; and then there are, of course, the mere scratch nests of the Phasianide, and the no nests at all of the Terns ; and in addition to these are the adapted nests of the Hobby and Peregrine, and the peculiar foundling arrangements of the Cuckoo. And among these nests we can have another division into those that are built only for the year, and those that are returned to again and again, which are generally built by the birds that pair for life, like the IDENTIFICATION. gt Swallow, the Raven, the Magpie, the Jackdaw, the Starling, the House Sparrow, the Robin, the Wren, the Ringdove, the Tits, and the Falcons ; the nests for the year being by far the most numerous, and being tenanted by the birds who take a fresh mate annually, such as the Thrush, the Chaffinch, the Whitethroat, the Skylark, the Willow Warbler, and the Snipe, who all abandon their nests when the brood is reared, and in some cases migrate about the country; for there is an inland migration as well as a foreign one. A bird always breeds in the coldest climate he visits, and some birds are migrants in one country and residents in another. The Robin, for instance, is resident here, but migrant in Germany ; and the search for food, warmth, and light will take a bird about an island, just as it will take him across the sea. No bird breeding south of us comes here, except as a straggler ; but a large number of birds breeding in the north visit us for about a month, twice a year, like the Little Stint and Redshank, which linger here on their way to and from more genial climes; while others, like the Wigeon and Fieldfare, find we are as far south as they care for, and stay the whole of the winter with us. These winter visitants only stay to breed here in rare instances. Those that nest here come in the spring, and some of these come back to their old nests, though the majority merely settle in the same neighbourhood. The same thing holds good regarding the residents that merely migrate about the country ; some will return, year after year, to the old nest, and some will always build afresh. But in most cases, when the nest is returned to, it is improved and enlarged, and we thus have another variety of nest—the one with additions. But we must not give way to “migration fever”; let us return to our proper task, having given up flight and song and nest as useless for the main subject, though useful as auxiliaries. Let us take a bird of prey, which, being neither an Owl nor a Vulture, must be one of the Falconide. The first question to ask is, if its lores are feathered. The “lore,” as we showed in our diagram of the Thrush, on page 34, is the space between the eye and the base of the beak. If the bird has feathered lores, it is a Honey Buzzard, our sole representative of the genus Perzis, which is the only bird of the Falcon family in this country that has not its lores bare. If its lores are not feathered, has it a forked tail? There are only three Falconine genera with forked tails—Z/anus, of which only one specimen is on record, and that from Ireland ; and Elanozdes, of which only two specimens have been taken here. It is therefore antecedently improbable that it will be one of these. However, you will know Elanoides at once by his white head and neck, and his long black narrow wings ; and a handsome fellow he is ; and Elanus will give you as little difficulty with his grey head and neck, and his black and white wings. As our bird has neither black nor black and white wings, he must, if he has a forked tail, be a Milvus, and of Milvus we have two species on the list—one only scen here once ; the other, zc¢/zws, the Kite, which was at one time one of our commonest birds, and even caught his food in Cheapside. But our specimen has not a forked tail, and therefore he is no Kite. Look at his feet. If his tarsus is feathered to the toes, his genus is Aguzla, if it is only feathered in front, it is Archébuteo ; and if he belongs to either of these genera his fourth primary will be the 52 IDENTIFICATION. longest feather in his wing. But as this is not the case, we must continue our search. Is his tarsus “scutellate,” that is plated, in front, and “reticulate,” that is netted, at the back; if so, his fifth primary will be the longest, and he will be Halzaétus albicilla, the Sea Eagle, always distinguishable at a glance from Aquila by the featkerless tarsus. But there are no reticulations on the back of the tarsus, neither are there on the front; and we thus get rid of two more genera, in each of which the first primary is longer than the secondaries, One of these is Fa/co, which has breeches, or feathers looking like such, on the legs, and has also a deeply notched bill ; while the other, Pamdion, has no breeches, and a very faintly notched bill ; in addition to which, Pandion has an outer toe that he can turn backwards or forwards as if he were an Owl, and he is the only Falcon that can do this ; “ Falconine” had been better said, perhaps, for it seems rather far-fetched to call an Osprey a Falcon. Looking again, we find our bird’s tarsus has scutellations both in front and at the back, and examining the wing we find the first primary is very short. He must, consequently, belong to one of three genera. If his fourth primary is the longest, and his first four primaries have a notch in them, he is a Suzeo,; if his third and fourth primaries are the longest, and he has a ruff round his neck, making him look something hike an Owl, he is a Czrcus, but if he has the fourth and fifth primaries longest, he is an Accipiter; and you can confirm the diagnosis by referring to his wings, which are short compared to the long wings of Circus and Buteo. But if Accipiter is his genus, what is his species? There are three Accipiters, one of which is but half the size of the others, so that by measurement he is unmistakable. But leaving measurement alone, we can discover him by his colour. If he were ashy brown above, and whitish below, he would be either africapilius or palumbarius 5 the former of which has only three appearances on record, while the latter is yearly becoming rarer, being no other than the once common Gos Hawk, which in flight can be recognised at once by the vigorous use of the tail in steering, and by the croaking sort of scream. Our bird is greyish blue above, with a white patch on the nape, and he is buffish in ground colour below, the buff being barred with brown ; and lastly, he is a foot long, while the Gos Hawk is nearly two. There is, therefore, every reason to suppose that he is a Sparrow Hawk; and a Sparrow Hawk, Accipiter nisus, he is. And now, having taken an example from each end of our table, from the Raptores we ruled off at the beginning, to the Passerines we left at the end, on the principle that if a bird did not belong to any of the other families, he must be placed there ; let us have a third and last example from the main brigade—that is, the main brigade of our tabulation, and not in reality, for out of the 10,000 species of birds in the world, more than half are Passerine ; and if we were to count heads instead of species, the preponderance of Passerines would be enormous. Here is a bird with four toes. Three of them are webbed to the claws, and the hind toe is free from the tarsus, although it has a sort of lobe to it. One look at the broad lamellate bill tells us it is a Duck. The fact is too obvious to be overlooked. Let us turn up at once our analysis of the Anatida. IDENTIFICATION. 53 Now, just as we picked out Pernzs from the Falconide by his naked lores, so can we pick out Cygmis from the Anatida. No one is likely to be in doubt as to what is a Swan; but should he be so, let him Jook at the lores. Our Duck is nota Swan. Does he belong to the genus Mergus? Ishea Merganser? Look athis beak. Is it cut into fine sharp teeth, projecting backwards as if it werea saw? No. Look at a Swan’s beak; you will see that the under mandible fits right up into the upper one, and that the sides are apparently grooved. Look at a Goose’s beak, and you will see that the leaf- shaped edges look like the edge of a lace collar. Look at a Duck’s beak, and you will see the plates as fineasacomb. But a Merganser’s beak? It is undoubtedly a saw, and a saw such as is possessed by no other British birds than the four of the Mergus genus we know as the Goosander, the Smew, the Hooded Merganser, and the Red- breasted Merganser, JZ. serrator. Our example is not a Merganser. Is he an Eider? Do the feathers of his forehead come down to form a central tract along his bill? No. Is his bill spatulate, like a spatula? Is he, in fact, a Shoveller? No. Now, we know that he has a lobe on his hind toe. If that were not well developed, or if it were absent, he would belong to one of seven genera. Let us run him through these. The group can be divided into those having the feet webs notched, and those having them entire. The genera with notched webs are Dafila and Querguedula, the former with a pointed tail, the latter with a rounded tail. The genera with the unnotched webs can be divided into groups—one with the tarsus reticulate all round, and one with the tarsus of any other pattern. Those with the entirely reticulate tarsi are the Geese, Amserx and Bernicla; Anser with the beak nearly as long as the head, and Bernzcla with the bill much shorter than the head—a distinction that may not be very great, but is really as great as that adopted by such authors as are not content to treat these two generaasone. There are three genera with the tarsus not completely reticulate ; these are Mareca, Tadorna, and Anas; the last with a wedge-shaped tail; the first with a bill much shorter than tHe head ; and the third with a white wing shoulder, and being, in fact, the handsome Sheld Ducks, or Sheldrakes, if you so please. But our bird had a well-developed hind lobe, and consequently does not belong to this group of seven. It must be one of the five that are left. Look at its axillaries ; are they white or brown? White. That is enough. But suppose they were brown. Its genus would then either be @demia, which are black Ducks with a tumid bill; or Clangula, which has the nostrils in the middle of the bill and 16 feathers in the tail; or Harelda, which has a tapering bill, and two enormously long middle feathers in a tail which has 14 in all; or Cosmonetta, which is the Harlequin Duck, so gaily striped and spotted that he can be picked out at a glance from the whole of the British avifauna. But a Duck witha large lobe on the hind toe and white axillaries must be of the genus Fudiguda. But which Fuligula? He has not a black head, and consequently can be neither cristata or marila. He has not a brown back, and consequently he is neither zyvoca nor rufina. There is only one species left and that fits him exactly :—“ head, chestnut ; back, grey ; wing speculum, grey” ; further, his bill is black, blue and black; and 54 IDENTIFICATION. finally there is no doubt he is a Pochard. Let us compare his measurements. His reference letters are Od ; the average length of the species is given as 18in.; the proportion that his wing should bear to his length is “47; the proportion his tail should bear is ‘15 ; the proportion his beak should bear is ‘12 ; the proportion his tarsus should bear is ‘08. And now for the actual measurements :—length, 17%inches—we cannot quite stretch to the extra eighth—wing 8$ inches; tail, 22 inches ; beak, 2} inches ; tarsus, 13 inches ; which are surely near enough for all practical purposes. A word of caution in conclusion. Do not let it be supposed that the accepted classification is dependent on the mere external characters we have chosen as our guides to identify. For the technical descriptions of the different families, genera and species, the student must go elsewhere, and he will then have his work cut out for him in exploring the intricacies of synonymy, and deciding on the authority he will follow in each particular case. And he will probably end by being quite ready for the new classification and the revision of the British list. CHAPTER VII. THE PASSERINE SUB-FAMILIES, —+o+ HE sub-families of the Passeridz are distinguishable as follows, the remiges being 18 or 19, except where stated : ORIOLIN& (Golden Oriole)—bright yellow, with black wings and tail, remiges often 20. 72. ICTERIN# (Red-winged Starling)—glossy black with scarlet wing coverts. 119. PANURINZ& (Bearded Tit)—black pointed moustache, long rufous tail. 49. AMPELIN& (Waxwing)—red waxy tips to secondaries ; erectile crest. 77. CINCLINA@ (Dippers) — dense fibrous blackish plumage, with undercoat of down; white throat; concave wings; two toes united. 47, 48. These five sub-families are unmistakable, the rest can be divided into— 1. First primary quite half as long as second. 2. First primary obsolete or minute. 3. First primary less than half as long as second. First primary quite half as long as second— TROGLODYTIN@ (Wren)—plumage long and soft; wings concave ; two toes united. 59. CORVIN& (Raven, Crows, Jackdaw, Jay, and Magpie)—wings flat ; remiges 19 to 22; plumage close and glossy. 122-131. First primary obsolete or minute— FRINGILLIN& (Finches)— bill short and conical; gape line straight or arched ; remiges 18. 87-108. EMBERIZIN& (Buntings)—bill short and conical; gape line angular ; palate knobbed. 109-118. MOTACILLINE (Wagtails and Pipits)—bill narrow and slender; legs long; tail long. 60-71. STURNIN& (Starlings)—metallic plumage with spots; bill straight and slender. 120, 121. HIRUNDININ# (Swallows)—bill wide; legs short ; wings long; tail forked. 81-84. ALAUDIN#@ (Larks)—remiges often 20; secondaries long ; tarsus scu’ellate back and front. 132-137. 56 THE PASSERINE SUB-FAMILIES, First primary less than half as long as second— CERTHIINE (Creepers)—bill long, curved, and slender ; tail rounded ; hind claw long and curved. 85, 86. MuscicaPIN& (Flycatchers)—bill broad, flat and bristled at base. 78-80. LANIIN (Shrikes)—bill short and deeply toothed ; two toes united. 73, 76. SITTIN (Nuthatch)—bill long and straight; feet large and strong ; two toes united. 58. PARIN (Tits)—three toes united as far as second joint; hind claw long. 50-57. ACCENTORIN& (Accentors)—bill strong and straight ; wings rounded ; tarsus scutellate ; two toes united. 45, 46. TURDIN& (Thrushes and Warblers)—see analysis of genera. I-44. CHAPTER VIII THE ORDERS. oe RRANGED as in the list of coloured plates, our 35 families will be found to group themselves into the following 18 customary ornithological orders. PASSERES—Passeride. PicaRlL&—Cypselide, Caprimulgide, Picide, Alcedinide, Coraciidze, Meropidz, Upupide, Cuculidz. STRIGES—Strigide. ACCIPITRES—Vulturidz, Falconidze. STEGANOPODES—Pelecanide. HERODIONES—Ardeide, Ciconiide, Plataleide, Ibididee. ODONTOGLOSS/— Pheenicopteridze. ANSERES—Anatide. CoLuMB&—Columbidz. PTEROCLETES—Pteroclidz. GALLIN#—Phasianide. HEMIPODII—Turnicidee. FULICARI@&—Rallidze. ALECTORIDES—Gruide, Otidida. LIMICOLA—(Edicnemidz, Glareolidz, Charadriidz, Scolopacidee, Gavi#—Laride. PyGOPODES—Alcidz, Colymbidz, Podicipedide. TUBINARES—Procellariide. This, or something on similar lines, is the classification to be found in most of the modern books on birds, the old arrangement into Rapaces, Passeres, Scansores, Gallinaces, Gralla, and Palmipedes, as given in Stanley, for instance, having long since been abandoned. But it is generally admitted that this classification is merely temporary, and that a new system is inevitable. What this system is to be, except that it will be an anatomical one, is not clear; but it seems probable that it will be based on the arrangement proposed by Huxley in his paper in the “ Proceedings” of the Zoological Society for 1867, which arrangement, with a few changes, was that adopted by W. K. Parker in his article on Birds in the Encyclopzedia Britannica. Professor Huxley’s paper appears in brief in his “ Manual of the Anatomy of Vertebrated Animals.” He divides the birds into two great groups: I, In which the metacarpals are not anchylosed together, and the tail is longer than the body—by the tail being meant that member itself and not the quill feathers it supports. II. In which the metacarpals are anchylosed together, and the tail is shorter than the body. To the first group belong the SAURURA represented by the Archzopteryx, that curious extinct bird found fossil in the Upper Oolites of Solenhofen, which was about as big as a Rook, which had a long lizard-like tail of twenty separate vertebra, all distinct from one another and carrying a pair of feathers, one on each side, and which had also two free claws to the wing, &c. E 58 THE ORDERS. To the second group all the existing birds can, as far as we know be referred. It can be divided into : I. Ratita@, having the sternum or breast bone devoid of a keel. II. CARINAT&, having the sternum with a keel. We need not concern ourselves with the subdivisions of the Ratitz, as no birds without a keel to their breast bone have been recognised as belonging to our national avifauna, and we doubt if any enthusiast would be bold enough to add one to the British List on the strength of having shot it on British ground. Familiar as the breast bone may be, on the dinner table and else- where, it is perhaps as well to give a sketch in order that there may be no mistake. Here is one seen in section and in three-quarter view, in which the keel is duly, though somewhat microscopi- cally, noted. Of the Ratitze the most familiar example is the Ostrich, which has a breast bone as flat as a raft, raft being vatts in Latin and thus being responsible " for the derivation. In the Carinatz, then, the sternum possesses a keel, and ossifies from a median centre in that keel, as well as from lateral paired centres, The long axes of the adjacent parts of the scapula and coracoid make an acute or a slightly obtuse angle, and are never, even approximately, identical or parallel. The scapula always has a ~ distinct acromion and the coracoid a clavicular process. The vomer is comparatively small, and allows the pterygoids and palatines to articulate directly with the basisphenoidal rostrum. The Carinatee, so-called from the Latin carina, a keel, are classified according to their palatal bones; or, to be more precise—we will explain the technical terms immediately we have cleared the way—into : I. Having the vomer broad behind, and interposing between the pterygoids, the palatines, and the basisphenoidal rostrum. II. Having the vomer narrow behind ; the pterygoids and palatines articulating largely with the basisphenoidal rostrum. To the first of these no British birds belong, the type of the group being the Tinamous. Of the second there are three divisions ; and representatives of each of these are to be found in our list. But, to proceed in proper sequence. The group having the vomer narrow behind can be divided into: I. Having the maxillo-palatines free. IJ. Having the maxillo-palatines united. Dealing first with those having the free maxillo-palatines we find them further classified into : I. Having the vomer pointed in front—Schizognathe. II. Having the vomer truncated in front. The Schizognathous birds we will tabulate presently, and to save the repetition of some very long words, we will here be satisfied with cen THE ORDERS. 59 a representative. Hereis a “Schizogna- thous” skull, that of the Crane, with the lower half removed so as to show the arrangement of the bones we want. Here gzad. is the quadrate bone on which the lower jaw works; ffer. is the pterygoid ; pad. is the palatine; max. pal. is the maxillo-palatine ; premax. is the premaxillary, and vomer is the vomer, the bone which is the key to the classifica- tion, and which varies more than almost any other bone in the skull of a bird. It is a small bone, thin as a knife blade and rarely broader, standing on its edge in the very centre of the roof of the bird’s mouth, a bone so delicate that it is one of the first to vanish when the student in search of it first prepares a skull. It will be noticed that in the case of the Crane it ends in a point towards the beak, and it so ends in the skulls of Plovers, Gulls, Fowls, and Pigeons, and others. In this group, we may as well quote as paraphrase, “the maxillo-palatines are usually elon- gated and lamellar; they pass inwards over the anterior processes of the palatine bones, with which they become united, and then bending backwards, along the inner edge of the palatines, leave a broader or a narrower fissure between themselves and the vomer, and do not unite with it or with one another.” But in the skulls of the Passerine birds the vomer is not pointed in front. Here, for instance, is the skull of a Raven, one of the Passerines. It is ‘ Agithognathous,” with the maxillo-palatines free, and the vomer ____--paemax, UNpointed, or rather cut off at a blunt a angle. The lettering is as before, but owing to the more open character of the skull the parts are more clearly traceable. Again, the quadrates lead on to the pterygoids which lead on to the palatines, and in the centre of the ~--ne«eas palatal framework we see the thin edge \ of the vomer. It will be seen that in this skull, as in that of the Crane, the maxillo - palatines are clearly separate. yr eresrsa'e ~The vomer in this group is cleft behind, embracing the rostrum of the sphenoid ‘ between its forks. “The palatines have —Gueenare nostero-external angles. The maxillo- palatines are slender at their origin, and extend inwards and backwards obliquely over the palatines, ending beneath the E2 PAL AT Ne 60 THE ORDERS. vomer in expanded extremities, which do not become united by bone either with one another or with the vomer. The anterior part of the nasal septum, in front of the vomer, is frequently ossified, and the interval between it and the pre-maxilla filled up with spongy bone ; but no union takes place between this ossification and the vomer.” Dealing next with the group in which the maxillo-palatines are united, we find that a large number of birds have the vomer “ either abortive or so small that it disappears from the skeleton. When it exists it is always slender, and tapers to a point anteriorly. The maxillo-palatines are united across the middle line, either directly or by the intermediation of ossifications in the nasal septum.” And the posterior ends of the palatines, and the anterior ends of the pterygoids articulate directly with the rostrum, as they do in the Schizognathe. Under such circumstances the skull is “ Desmognathous.” Of such a skull we have an example in that here given of the Goose. We need not repeat the references. The differences in the structure of the palate, and con- sequently of the whole skull are clear enough. This type of skull is represented in the Birds of Prey, the Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Swans and Ducks, Storks and Cormorants, and others. To this group has since been given the name of Saurognathe, and then it includes the Woodpeckers, the Picidz, in whom the vomerine halves are permanently distinct and the maxillo-palatines arrested. Huxley’s grouping has not, however, been accepted without modifications, which the student who takes any interest in the matter should investigate for himself. On the opposite page is given one of the most recent arrangements, that adopted at the Natural History Museum. It is abbreviated to include only those families we have been endeavouring to identify, being quite British and no more— in other words, out of the 39 orders of the world’s avifauna it deals only with 23, which is not a bad proportion consider- ing the size of these islands. The 16 orders exclusively foreign, are the 7 of the Ratite (I. Struthioniformes, the ostriches; II. Rheiformes, the rheas; III. Dinornithiformes, the moas; IV. Apyornithiformes, the Madagascar moas; V. Casuariiformes, the emus and cassowaries ; VI. Apterygiformes, the kiwis; and VII. Tinamiformes, the tinamous): the 9 Carinate orders being VIII. Sphenisciformes, the penguins; XIII. Opistho- comiformes, the hoatzins; XVIII. Palamedeiformes, the THE ORDERS. 61 screamers; XX. Cathartidiformes, the turkey-vultures; XXI. Serpentariiformes, the secretary-birds; XXIV. Psittaciformes, the parrots ; XXVI. Trogoniformes, the trogons ; XXIX. Euryle- miformes, the broadbills ; and XXX. Menuriformes, the lyre-birds. AVES. SUB-cLass— Tt: SAURUREZ—as Gastornithide, only found fossil. Ds NEORNITHES—modern birds. Section A—Ratite, as the Ostrich, none British: Section B—Carinate—with keeled breastbone. ORDERS OF THE CARINATE REPRESENTED IN BRITAIN— I. Galliformes— Phasianide and Tetraonide. 2. Pierocletifovrmes— Pteroclide. 3. Turniciformes— Turnicide. 4. Columbiformes—- Columbide. 5. Ralliformes— Rallide. 6. Podecipediformes—Podicipedide. Fs Colmybiformes— Colymbide. 9. Proceliaviformes— Procellariide. 10. Alciformes— Alcide. It. Lariformes— Stercorariide and Laride. 1. Charadriiformes— Charadriide, Cursoriide, Glareo- lide, Gidicnemide, and Otidide. 14, Gruiformes— Gruide. 15. Ardetformes— Ardeide, Ciconiide, Ibidide, and Plataleide. 16. Anseriformes— Anatide. 176 Phenicopteriformes—Phcenicopteride. Ig. Pelecanifornes— Phalacrocoracide and Sulide. 22. Accipitriformes— Vulturide, Falconide and Pan- dionide. 23), Strigiformes— Bubonide and Strigide. 25. Coractifovmes— Coraciide, Meropidw, Upupide, Caprimulgide, and Cypselide. 27. Cuculiformes— Cuculide. 28. Piciformes— Picide. 31. Passeviformes— Tasseride of the following families of the Acromyodi :— 2. Hirundinide. 21. Regulide. 3. Muscicapide. 22. Sittide. 7. Troglodytide. 23. Certhiide. 8. Cinclide. 30. Motacillide. to. Turdide. 31. Alaudide. 11. Sylviide. 32. Fringillida. 13. Ampelide, 36. Icteride. 17. Laniide. 37. Oriolide. 18. Paride. 41. Sturnide. 19. Panuride. 45. Corvide. CHAPTER IX. INDEX TO THE FAMILIES AND SUB-FAMILIES, —+eo—- ic is to be understood by the student that the particulars given hereunder are not necessarily those on which the customary ornithological classification is based, but simply such as happen to be most useful for purposes of identification, and that only such points are mentioned as are necessary for distinguishing the families and sub-families from each other with regard to their representatives on the British list. ACCENTORIN#—sub-family of Passeride (range 5 in. to 7% in.) —first primary less than half as long as second; bill strong and straight ; remiges 19 ; tarsus scutellate; two toes united. Genus, Accentor; the Hedge Sparrow. 45, 46. ALAUDIN£—sub-family of Passeridz (range 5 in. to 7} in.)—first primary very small; remiges 19 or 20; tarsus scutellated back and front. Genera, A/auda and Ofocorys; the Larks. 132-137. ALCEDINIDZ (range 63 in. to 13 in.)—four toes, two of them united as far as the second joint, and two as far as the first ; remiges 22 ; third primary longest. Genera, Alcedo and Cery/e ; the Kingfishers. I51, 152. ALCID (range 8} in. to 32 in.)—three toes, united as far as the claws; wings fin-like; tail rudimentary. Genera, Adca, Ura, MMéergulus and Fratercula; the Razorbill, Auks, Guillemots, and Puffin. 373-379. AMPELIN/—sub-family of Passeridz (range 7 in. to 74 in.); red waxy tips to secondaries ; longerectile crest. Genus, Amfelis; the Waxwing. 77. ANATID& (range 13 in. to 60 in.)—four toes, three of them united as far as the claws; bill broad and lamellate, or toothed. Genera, Anser, Bernicla, Cygnus, Tadorna, Anas, Spatula, Dafila, Querquedula, Mareca, Fuligula, Clangula, Harelda, Cosmonetta, Sens CEdemia, and Mergus,; the Geese, Swans, and Ducks. 217-262. ARDEID& (range 12 in. to 42 in.)—four toes, two united ; bill long and straight ; legs long; middle claw pectinate. Genera, Ardea, Nycticorax, and Botaurus; the Herons and Bitterns. 202-211. CAPRIMULGID& (range Io in. to 13 in.)—four toes, three of them united no further than the first joint; phalanges, 2, 3, 4, 3; bill gaping. Genus, Caprimulgus, the Nightjars. 141-143. CERTHIIN®—sub-family of Passeride (range 4} in. to 6 in.) ; first primary less than half as long as second ; bill long, curved, and slender ; rounded tail and long curved hind claw. Genera, Certhia and Tichodroma, the Creepers. 85, 86. INDEX TO THE FAMILXYES AND SUB-FAMILIES. 63 CHARADRIID& (range 6 in. to 16 in.). I.—Three toes, united near base ; bill longer or shorter than head, and not dilated at point. Genera, Cursorius, Eudromias, Charadrius, 4-gtalitis,and Hamatopus; the Courser, Dotterel, Plovers (except the Grey Plover), and the Oystercatcher. 292- 295, 297-300, 303. II.—Four toes, three of them united near the base. Genera, Squatarola, Strepstlas, and Vanellus ; the Grey Plover, which has a white tail with broad black and brown bars ; the Turnstone, which has orange legs; and the Lapwing, which has a crest. 296, 302, 301. CICONIID (range 39 in. to 44 in.)—four toes, three of them united no further than the first joint; long legs; long bill; over 30 remiges. Genus, Czconza, the Storks. 212, 213. CINCLIN©—sub-family of Passeridz (range 6 in. to 64 in.) ; two toes united; dense, fibrous blackish plumage; white throat ; concave wings. The only passerine birds with down. Genus, Czzclus, the Dippers. 47, 48. COLUMBID& (range II in. to 17 in.)—four toes, three in front, divided throughout ; bill deflected, thinnest in middle, expanding towards point; nostrils in soft skin at base of bill; no down; feathers es without aftershaft ; second primary longest. Genera, Columba, Turtur, and Ectopistes ; the Doves and Pigeons. 263-267. COLYMBID& (range 21 in. to 33 in.)—four toes, three of them united as far as the claws and one webbed to tarsus; wings short; bill compressed and pointed ; tail very short and rounded. Genus, Colymbus,; the Divers. 380-383. CORACIIDA (range II in. to 12 in.)—four toes, three in front divided throughout ; bill compressed; upper mandible decurved at tip; 23 remiges ; tarsus scutellate in front, reticulate at back. Genus, Coracias ; the Roller. 153. CoRVINA—sub-family of Passeridz (range 14 in. to 24 in.) ; remiges 19 to 22 ; first primary quite half as long as second, fifth and sixth longest, first four graduated ; plumage close and glossy ; two toes united. Genera, Pyrrhocorax, Nucifraga, Garrulus, Pica, and Corvus; the Chough, Nutcracker, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Rook, and Raven. 122-131. CUCULID& (range 12 in. to 17 in.)—four toes, divided throughout, two in front and two behind; bill short or moderate. Genera, Cuculus, Coccystes, and Coccyzus; the Cuckoos. 157-160. CYPSELID& (range 7 in. to 83 in.). I.—Four toes, divided throughout, all in front; remiges 18; phalanges, 2, 3, 3, 3. Genus, Cypselus,; the Swifts. 138, 139. II.—Four toes, divided throughout, three in front; tail feathers with sharp, protruding spines. Genus, Acanthylis ; the Needle- tailed Swift. 140. EMBERIZIN&—sub-family of Passeridz (range 43 in. to 7 in.)—first primary obsolete; bill short and conical; gape line angular ; knob on palate. Genera, Emdberiza, Calcarius, and Plectrophanes ; the Buntings. 109-118. FALCONID& (range Io in. to 36 in.)—Birds of Prey; bill strong, sharp, and curving, and with a cere at base; claws powerful , feathers on crown. Genera, Circus, Buteo, Archibuteo, Aquila, 64 INDEX TO THE FAMILIES AND SUB-FAMILIES. Haliattus, Accipiter, Milvus, Elanoides, Elanus, Pernis, Falco, and Pandion,; the Harriers, Buzzards, Eagles, Hawks, Kites, Falcons, and Osprey. 173-198. . FRINGILLIN#Z—sub-family of Passeride (range 4} in. to 9 in.) ; remiges rarely more than 18; first primary obsolete or minute ; bill short and conical; gape line straight or arched. Genera, Carduelis, Serinus, Ligurinus, Coccothraustes, Passer, Fringilla, Linota, Pyrrhula, and Loxia,; the Finches, Sparrows, Linnets, Grosbeaks, and Crossbills. 87-108. : GLAREOLID& (range 8} in. to 9 in.)}—four toes, two united; bill short ; wings long; legs short; tail forked. Genus, G/areola, the Pratincole. 291. GRUID& (range 39 in. to 48 in.)—four toes, two united ; bill long ; legs long, middle claw smooth. Genus, Grus,; the Cranes. 285, 286. HIRUNDININ&—sub-family of Passeridee (range 4} in. to 8% in.) ; nine primaries ; secondaries broad and notched ; wide bill ; short legs ; long wings; forked tail. Genus, A/zrundo,; the Swallows and Martins. 81-84. IBIDIDZ (range 21 in. to 22 in.)—four toes, three united as far as the claws ; bill long, slender and decurved, point rounded ; 27 remiges. Genus, /ézs,; the Ibis. 215. ICTERIN#—sub-family of Passeridas (range 8} in. to 9 in.); glossy black with scarlet wing coverts. Genus, 4ge/eus; the Red-winged Starling. I19. LANIIN/—sub-family of Passeridz (range 7} in. to 9 in.); remiges 19; first primary less than half as long as second ; bill short and deeply toothed ; two toes united. Genus, Zazzazs, the Shrikes and Woodchat. 73-76. LARID& (range 84 in. to 33 in.) I.—Three toes, united as far as the claws; wings long; remiges 31; tail forked or square. Genus, A7zssa, the Kittiwake. 367. II.—Four toes, three united and one webbed to tarsus ; bill short. Genus, Pagophila; the Ivory Gull. 368. III.—Four toes, three of them united as far as the claws, the fourth very short. Genera, Mydrochelidon, Sterna, Anous, Xema, Rhodostethia, and Larus, the Terns and Gulls. 241-366. MEROPIDA (range Io in. to II in.)—remiges, 23; second primary longest ; four toes, three united, two as far as the second joint and two as far as the first ; tail long. Genus, Merofs; the Bee-eaters. 154,155. MOTACILLINZ—sub-family of Passeridz (range 53 in. to 8 in.) ; two toes united ; first primary obsolete or minute ; narrow, slender bill ; long legs ; longtail. Genera, Afotacé/la and Anthus ; the Wagtails and Pipits. 60-71. MUSCICAPIN@—sub-family of Passeridz (range 5 in. to 54 in.) ; remiges 19; first primary less than half as long as second ; bill broad, flat, and bristled at base. Genus, Muscicapa; the Fly- catchers. 78-80. CEDICNEMID (range 16 in. to 17 in.); three toes united as far as the second joint; remiges 29; Genus, @adzcnemus,; the Stone Curlew. 290. ORIOLINA—sub-family of Passerida (range 9 in. to 94 1n.); golden yellow bird with black wings ; remiges often 20; first primary half as long as second. Genus, Ovdolus, the Golden Oriole. 72. INDEX TO THE FAMILIES AND SUB-FAMILIES. 65 OTIDID (range 16 in. to 45 in.); three toes united near base and edged with membranes. Genus, Of¢zs, the Bustards. 287- 289. PANURIN/#—sub-family of Passeridz (range 6 in. to 64 in.) ; black pointed moustache; long rufous tail. Genus, Panurus; the Bearded Tit. 49. PARIN/—sub-family of Passeride (range 4 in. to 6 in.); first primary less than half as long as second ; three toes united as far as the second joint; long hind claw. Genera, Acredula and Parus,; the Tits. 50-57. PASSERID& (range 3% in. to 24 in.)—four toes, three united or two united, or all divided; remiges 18 to 22; indexed under the different sub-families—Alaudinz, Ampeline, Certhiinz, Cincline, Corvine, Emberizine, Fringilline, Hirundininz, Icterine, Laniine, Motacillinz, Muscicapine, Oriolinz, Panurinz, Parinz, Sittine, Sturnine, Troglodytine, and Turdine. 1-137. PELECANID# (range 27 in. to 36 in.)—four toes, all united; bill long ; tarsus compressed ; third claw pectinate. Genera, Pha/a- crocorax and Suda, the Cormorant, Shag, and Gannet. 199-201. PHASIANIDA (range 7 in. to 36 in.)—four toes, three united no further than first joint ; eleventh wing feather shortest ; short legs ; short bill. Genera, Zetrao, Phastanus, Perdix, and Coturnix,; the Caper- eas Grouse, Ptarmigan, Pheasant, Partridge, and Quail. 269- 276, PHENICOPTERIDZ (range 50 in. to 70 in.)—four toes, three united as far as the claws; web incised; bill bent half way. Genus, Phenicopterus,; the Flamingo. 216. PICID# (range 54 in. to 14 in.)—four toes, two in front, two behind ; bill long; tongue long; 12 tail feathers, two outer ones hidden under the two next. Genera, Pzcus, Gecinus, and lynx, the Woodpeckers and Wryneck. 144-150. PLATALEIDA (range 30 in. to 32 in.)—four toes, three united as far as the second joint ; spatulate bill ; 30 remiges. Genus, Plata/ea ; the Spoonbill. 214. PODICIPEDID# (range 8 in. to 24 in.)—four toes, with pennate and entire lobes; tail a tuft of small downy feathers; tarsus com- pressed. Genus, Podiceps,; the Grebes. 384-388. PROCELLARIID (range 5 in. to 19 in.)—nostrils in a tube; bill unserrated and ending in a nail. I.—Three toes, united as far as claws. Oceantztes, 398. II.—Four toes, three united as far as the claws. Genera, Fudmarus, Pufinus, Bulweria, and Procellaria; the Petrels and Shear- waters. 389-397. PTEROCLID& (range 16 in. to 20 in.)—three toes, united as far as the claws ; tail of 16 feathers, two of considerable length ; wings long; tail wedge-shaped. Genus, Syrrhaptes,; Pallas’s Sand Grouse. 268. RALLIDZ& (range 7 in. to 16 in.). I.—Feet lobate. Genera, Fulzca and Gallinula,; the Coot and Moorhen. 283, 284. Il.—Feet divided; short stout beak; large feet; short legs; short tail; rounded wings. Genera, Crex and Rallus,; the Crakes and Water Rail. 278-282. 66 INDEX TO THE FAMILIES AND SUB- FAMILIES. SCOLOPACID# (range 54 in. to 26 in.). I.—Three toes, united near base; tail feathers doubly notched Genus, Calidris; the Sanderling. 324. ; II.—Four toes, three united as far as the second joint ; bill boldly curving upwards. Genus, Recurvirostra; the Avocet. 304. III.—Four toes, three united near base. Genera, Himantopus, Scolopax, Macrorhampus, Limicola, Tryngites, and Numenius, the Black-winged Stilt, the Woodcock, Red-breasted Snipe, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Curlews, and Whimbrel. 305, 308, 312, 313, 325, 338-340. IV.—Four toes, three in front, two united. Genera, Machetes, Bartramia, Limosa,and Totanus, the Ruff, Bartram’s Sandpiper, the Godwits, the Sandpiper, the Spotted, Green, Wood, and Solitary Sandpipers, the Redshanks, Greenshank, and Yellow- shank. 323, 326-337. V.—Feet lobate ; lobes narrowly denticulate. Genus, Phaluropus, the Phalarope. 306. , VI.—Feet divided; long slender bill, Genera, Gallinago and Tringa, the Snipes, Stints, and other Sandpipers. 309-311, 314- 322. SITTINZ—sub-family of Passeridz (range 5 in. to 6 in.); first primary less than half as long as the second; third, fourth, and fifth longest; long straight bill; large powerful feet ; two toes united. Genus, Szé/a,; the Nuthatch. 58. ; STRIGIDA (range 7 in. to 27 in.)—Birds of Prey; bill powerful and with a cere at base; large head; round face ; eyes in front ; claws well developed. Genera, Strix, Asio, Syrnium, Nyctea, Surnia, Nyctala, Scops, Bubo, and Athene,; the Owls. 161-170. STURNINAZ—sub-family of Passeridz (range 74 in. to 83 in.) ; remiges 19; first primary minute; second primary longest in wing; plumage with metallic tints and spotted ; bill straight and slender. Genera, Sturnus and Pastor; the Starlings. 120, 121. TROGLODYTINA—sub-family of Passeride (range 3} in. to 4 in.) ; first primary quite half as long as second ; plumage long and soft ; tail short ; two toes united. Genus, 7roglodytes; the Wren. 509. TURDIN&—sub-family of Passeride (range 34 in. to I2 in.) ; remiges 19; first primary less than half as long as second; bill with or without tooth; toes united or not (see analysis of Genera). Genera, Turidus, Geocichla, Merula, Monticola, Saxicola, Pratincola, Ruticilla, Cyanecula, Erithacus, Daulias, Sylvia, Melizophiius, aes Phylloscopus, Hypolais, Aédon, Acrocephalus, and Locus- tella. 1-44. TURNICID@ (range 6 in. to 63 in.)—three toes divided throughout. Genus, Zurntx; the Andalusian Bush Quail. 277. UPUPID& (range Io in. to 12 in.)-—four toes, two united; erectile crest ; remiges 20; first primary small, second equal to seventh a third, fourth and fifth the longest. Genus, Uguga; the Hoopoe. 156. VULTURIDA (range 25 in. to 40 in.)—Birds of Prey; strong, sharp, curving bill, with a cere at base ; powerful claws; head bald or covered with down; wings long and rounded; tail rounded Genera, Gyfs and Neophron; the Vultures, 171, 172. CHAPTER X. THE GENERA, te ie this list the families and sub-families are arranged alphabeticaily so as to facilitate reference ; and only such particulars are given as are needed to distinguish one genus from another as regards its representatives in the British List. For the separation of the families reference must be made to the preceding chapters, the separation of the species being given in the chapter that follows. ACCENTORIN®. (Plate iv.) Accentor—45, 46. ALAUDIN&. (Plate x.) «llauda—third primary longest; breast spotted; tarsus longer than middle toe. 132-136. Otocorys—second primary longest; breast black; tarsus not longer than middle toe. 137. ALCEDINID&. (Plate xi.) Alcedo—without a crest ; tail short. 151. Ceryle—with a crest ; tail long. 152. ALCIDA. (Plate xxxii.) 1. Bill unfeathered at base. Fratercula—bill sheathed with orange. 379. 2. Bill feathered at base. Alca—bill large and compressed ; remiges 30. 373, 374. Mergulus—bill broader than high ; remiges 26. 378. Uria—bill strong, straight and pointed. 376, 377. AMPELIN&. (Plate vi.) Ampelis—long erectile crest. 77. ANATIDA, (Plates xix. xx. xxi. xxii.) Cygnus—lores naked ; neck long ; legs short. 227-332. Mergus—bill narrow, with sharp teeth. 259-262. Somateria—bill with a central tract of feathers. 253-255. Spatula—bill spatulate and long. 237. 1. Lobe of hind toe absent or rudimentary. 2, Lobe of hind toe well developed. Lobe of hind toe absent or rudimentary. Feet webs notched. Dafila—tail pointed. 238. Querguedula—tail rounded. 239-24T. Feet webs entire. Tarsus reticulate all round. Anser—bill nearly as long as head. 217-222. 68 THE GENERA. Bernicla—bill much shorter than head. 223-226. Tarsus otherwise. Mareca—bill much shorter than head. 242, 243. Tadorna—wing shoulder white and knobbed. 233, 234. Anas—tail wedge-shaped. 235, 236. Lobe of hind toe well developed. 1. Axillaries brown. 2. Axillaries white. Axillaries brown. Cdemia—bill tumid ; body colour black or brown, 256-258. Clangula—nostrils in middle of bill ; 16 feathers in tail. 249, 250. Hlarelda—bill tapering, lamella exposed; 14 feathers in tail, two middle ones very long. 251. Cosmonetta—bill like that of a goose, lamellz hidden ; body gaily striped and spotted; 14 feathers in tail, which is much graduated. 252. Axillaries white. Fuligula—244-248. ARDEID&. (Plates xvii. xviii.) 1. Bill much longer than head. Ardea—bill long and straight; six powder down tracts; 12 tail feathers ; tarsus scutellate in front. 202-207. Ardetta—bill slender and pointed; four powder down tracts; 10 tail feathers. 208. Botaurus—bill higher than broad ; four powder down tracts; Io tail feathers. 210, 211. 2. Bill about as long as head. Nycticorax—i2 tail feathers; six powder down tracts; tarsus reticulate in front. 209. CAPRIMULGIDA. (Plate x.) Caprimulgus—gaping bill with large rictal bristles. 141-143. CERTHIINE. (Plate vi.) Certhia—tail feathers pointed and stiff. 85. Tichodroma—tail feathers rounded and soft. 86. CHARADRUDA. (Plate xxvi.) 1, With three toes. 2. With four toes. Three toes. Bill longer than head. Hematopus—remiges 29. 303. Bill shorter than head. Second primary longest ; middle toe very long. Cursorius—tarsus long and slender, and scutellate back and front. 292. First primary longest. Inner secondaries much shorter than primaries. Charadrius—tarsus reticulate ; tail feathers barred. 294, 295. Inner secondaries as long as primaries. -L-gialitis—tarsus reticulate. 297-300. Ludromias—tarsus scutellate. 293. Four tees. Axillaries black. THE GENERA. 69 Sguatarola—first primary longest ; black legs. 296. Axillaries white. Strepstlas—first primary longest; orange legs; toes cleft to base. 302. Vanellus—head with a crest ; third and fourth primaries !ongest ; brown legs ; two toes webbed nearly to first joint. 301. CiconitD&. (Plate xviii.) Ciconta—bill and legs deep red. 212, 213. CINCLIN. (Plate iv.) Cinclus—an under coating of down. 47, 4& COLUMBIDA. (Plate xxiii.) Columba—tail even ; brown and grey. 263-265. Lctopistes—tail long and wedge-shaped; two middle feathers black. 267. Zurtur—black and white patch on neck; tail rounded; two middle feathers dusky brown, tipped with white. 266. CoLymMBID&. (Plate xxxii.) Colymbus—280-283. CoRACIIDA. (Plate xii.) Coractas—narrow bill and flat pointed wings. 153. CorVIN#. (Plate ix.) Corvus—bill black ; tail black. 127-131. Garrulus—crested ; blue, black and white chequer on wing. 125 Nuctfraga—bill black , tail tipped with white. 124. Pyrrhocorax—bill red or yellow. 122, 123. Pica—tail very long and iridescent black ; first primary sinuated. 126. CUCULIDA. (Plate xii.) Coccystes—head with a crest; taillong. 158. Coccyzus—tail of 10 feathers, which are black and white. 159, 160. Cuculus—tail of 12 feathers, which are black and grey. 157. CYPSELIDA. (Plate x.) Cypselus—four toes in front; middle toe three phalanges, outer toe three phalanges. 138, 139. Acanthyllis—three toes in front; middle toe four phalanges, outer toe five phalanges. 140. EMBERIZIN&. (Plate viii.) Calcarius—bill yellow, tipped with black. 117. Emberiza—bill brown, grey, or buff. 109-116. Plectrophanes—bill black, 118 FALCONIDA. (Plates xiv. xv. xvi.) Lores feathered. Pernis—tarsus reticulate back and front. 188. Lores not feathered. Tail forked. Milvus—tarsus scutellate in front, reticulate behind. 184, 185. Elanotdes —white head andneck ; longblacknarrowwings. 186. Elanus—grey head and neck ; black and white wings. 187. Tail even or rounded. Tarsus feathered ; fourth primary longest. 79 THE GENERA, Aguila—tarsus feathered to toes ; 27 remiges. 178, 179. Archibuteo—tarsus featherless at back; 24 remiges. 177. Tarsus scutellate in front, reticulate at back; fifth primary longest. Haliaétus—white tail ; 27 remiges. 180. Tarsus reticulate back and front; first primary longer than secondaries. Falco—legs with breeches; outer toe not reversible ; bill deeply notched. 189-197. Pandion—legs without breeches; outer toe reversible ; bill faintly notched. 198. Tarsus scutellate back and front ; first primary short. Buteo—fourth primary longest ; first four primaries notched ; wings long. 176. Circus—third and fourth primaries longest; wings long; head with a ruff. 173-175. Accipiter—fourth and fifth primaries longest; wings short. 181-183. FRINGILLIN&. (Plates vii. viii.) Mandibles crossed. Loxta—105-108. Upper mandible overhanging. Pyrrhula—t02-104. Upper mandible rather larger than lower. Passer—tail square. 93, 94. Serinus — tail forked. 89, go. Mandibles nearly equal. Tail square. Coccothraustes—primaries hooked at the tip. 92. Tail forked. Ligurinus—second, third and fourth primaries equal. 91. Carduelis—second primary longer than third, and longest in wing. 87, 88. Fringilla—second primary shorter eget third, which, or the fourth, is the longest in the wing. 95, 9 Linota—-second and third primaries a ‘equal, and the longest feathers in the wing. 97-101. GLAREOLIDA. (Plate xxv.) Glareola—29\. GRUID&. (Plate xxv.) Grus—285,; 286. HIRUNDININA. (Plate vi.) Hirundo--81-84. {BIDIDA. (Plate xviii.) Lbis—215. ICTERINA. (Plate ix.) Agelaus—ti19. LANIINE. (Plate vi} Lanius—7 3-76. THE GENERA. 7) LARIDA. (Plates xxx. xxxi. xxxii.) 1. Three toes. Rissa—remiges 31; feet black. 367. 2. Four toes ; three all united and one webbed to tarsus, Pagophila—plumage pure white. 368. 3. Four toes ; three united. Larus—tail square. 356-366. Rhodostethia—breast white and rose ; tail wedge-shaped. 355. Sterna—bill longer than head ; tail forked. 344-352. Anous—whole body blackish brown ; tail graduated. 353. Xema—bill shorter than head ; tail forked; legs long. 354. fHydrochelidon—bill as long as head ; tail slightly forked ; legs short ; webs incised. 341-343. Stercorarius—bill strong, cutting, compressed and with a cere ; remiges 26 or 28 ; tail rounded. 369-372. MEROPID&. (Plate xii.) Merops—wings long and pointed; bastard primary very small ; tail long. 154, 155. MOTACILLINZ. (Plate v.) Anthus—tail short and forked. 66-71. Motacilla—tail long and even. 60-65. MUSCICAPIN®. (Plate vi.) Muscicapa— 78-80. GEDICNEMID#. (Plate xxv.) GQ:dicnemus—tarsus reticulate before and behind. 290 ORIOLIN. (Plate v.) Oriolus—72. OTIDIDA. (Plate xxv.) O¢zs—tarsus reticulate before and behind. 287-289, PANURINE. (Plate iv.) Panurus—49. PARINA. (Plate iv.) Acredula—tiong tail, much graduated. 50, 54, Parus—short tail, nearly even. 52-57. PASSERID&. (Plates i. to x.) (See under its various sub-families.) PELECANID#. (Plate xvii.) Phalacrocorax—wings moderate; middle toe shorter than outer, 199, 200. Sula—wings long ; middle toe not shorter than outer. 201. PHASIANIDA. (Plates xxiii. xxiv.) Tarsus feathered— Tetrao—tarsus without spurs. 269-272. Tarsus unfeathered. Coturnix—wings long ; tail very short. 276. Perdix—first primary short ; wings short ; tail short. 274, 275. Phasianus—wings short ; tail very long. 273. 72 THE GENERA PHENICOPTERIDA. (Plate xviii.) Phenicopterus—216. Picip#. (Plate xi.) Tail feathers stiff and pointed. Gecinus—greenish in colour. 149. Picus—black and white or black and red. 144-148, Tail feathers soft and rounded. Jynx—brown and greyish white. 150. PLATALEIDA. (Plate xviii.) Platalea—214. PQDICIPEDIDA. (Plate xxxiii.) Podiceps—38 4-388. PROCELLARIIDA. (Plate xxxiii.) Bill as long as head. Bulweria—unspotted brownish black. 395. Bill longer than head. Puffinus—bdill slender. 391-394. Bill shorter than head. fFulmarus—bill indented or curved. 389, 390. Procellaria—bill straight to the nail. 396, 397. Oceanites—bill small and weak ; tail square ; tarsus plated. 39%. PrEROCLIDA. (Plate xxiii.) Syrrhaptes—268. RALLIDA. (Plate xxiv.) Forehead feathered ; remiges 26. Crex—bill shorter than head. 278-281. Rallus—bvill longer than head. 282. Forehead with a shield. fulica—foot lobes denticulate ; remiges 25. 284. Gallinula—tfoot lobes entire ; remiges 23. 283. SCOLOPACIDA. (Plates xxvii. xxviii. xxix.) Three toes. Calidris—324. Four toes. Three united as far as second joint. Recurvirostra—remiges 30; bill curved upwards, 304. Three united near base. flimantopus—remiges 29; black wings ; very long legs. 305. Limicola—bill long, flat, and wide in the middle. 313. !Lacrorhampus—remiges 20; bill long and rounded; outer web of foot larger than inner. 312. Wumenius—bill more than twice as long as head, and curved downwards ; 30 remiges. 338-340. Scolopax—bill long, straight, and compressed ; 26 remiges. 308. Tryngites—bill shorter than head. 325. Three in front, two united. Rartramia—remiges 26; billno longer than head ; wings not reaching tip of tail. 326. Timosa—remiges 28; bill nearly twice as long as nead and curving slightly upwards. 336, 337. THE GENERA. 73 Machetes—male with a ruff; bill as long as head ; wings reaching tip of tail. 323. Totanus—bill rather longer than head; tail barred and short. 327-335. Feet lobate. Phalaropus—remiges 25. 306, 307. Feet all divided. Gallinaga—bill very straight and long. 309-311. Tringa—bill rather longer than head ; tail without bars. 314-322. SITTINA. (Plate iv.) Sttta—j58. STRIGIDA. (Plate xiii.) Bill straight from base, curved only at tip; 24 remiges ; second primary longest. Strix—feet rather bristly ; nostrils not in cere. 161, Bill curved from base. Tail long. Syrnium—facial disk complete. 164. Surnia—facial disk hardly traceable. 166. Tail short. Lower mandible sinuate. Athene—nostrils in cere ; feet bristly. 170. Lower mandible notched. Head with plumicorns, Scops—feet bare ; 22 remiges ; fourth primary longest. 168. A sto—teet feathered ; wings long ; 24 remiges ; second primary longest. 162, 163. Bubo—feet feathered ; wings short; 29 remiges; third and fourth primaries longest. 169. Without plumicorns. Nyctala—ears with operculum. 167, Nyctea—ears without operculum, 165. STURNINA. (Plate ix.) Pastor—crested. 121. Sturnus—uncrested. 120. TROGLODYTINE. (Plate iv.) Troglodytes—s9. TURDINA. (Plates i. ii. iii.) Geoctchla—axillaries chequered. 7, 8. Merula—axillaries black. 9, Jo. Phylloscopus—axillaries yellow ; breast whitish; legs brown. 42-35. Hypola?s—axillaries yellow ; bill stout ; legs blue. 36. Daulias-~axillaries buff; breast buff; back reddish brown , tail reddish brown. 22. Erithacus—chin red ; lower breast white. 21. Melizophitus—chin chestnut ; lower breast chestnut. Aédon—head and back chestnut; breast buff; tail rounded and long and tipped with white. 37. Regulus—bright yellow crest. 30, 31. Sa.vicola—rump white ; legs black ; bill unnotched. 12-14. F 74 THE GENERA. Pratincola—rump whitish; legs black; bill notched; tail short and square. 15, 16. Cyanecula—throat blue ; head brown. 19, 20. Monticola—head bluish grey ; bill black ; breast chestnut. ITI. Ruticilla—throat black ; tail red, with black or brown on its two middle feathers. 17, 78. Locustella—no rictal pie ; axillaries brown ; tail pointed and shorter than wing. 43, 4. Acrocephalus—bill large, denieseea and broad at base ; axillaries whitish ; tail short and rather round. 38-42. Sylvia—bill obscurely notched, very short and stout, but not broad at base; breast plain or barred ; wings moderate ; ; first primary noticeably under half the length of second ; tail ashy or brown and white. 23-28. Turdus—bill distinctly notched ; outer and middle toes united: tail ratherlong. Range over seven inches. 1-6. TURNICIDA. (Plate xxiv.) Turnix—277. Upupip&. (Plate xii.) Upupa—slender curved bill ; crested head; rounded wings. 156, VULTURIDA. (Plate xiv.) Gyps—fourth primary longest ; legs bluish. 134, Neophron—third primary longest ; legs pinkish. 72. CHAPTER XL PHE SPECIES, ih this Chapter only such particulars are given as are needful to separate between the species. For the distinctions between the Genera, &c., reference must be made to the preceding chapters. As an aid in identification the species are arranged in order of their average size ; their accepted ornithological order will be found in the coloured plates. In the notes a few particulars are given as to flight, song, and nest. Where not otherwise stated, the plumage of the sexes is alike. The dimensions are fully given in the chapter devoted to them, and the eggs have also been dealt specially with in a similar way. Acanthyllis. Plate x, CYPSELIDA. 140, caudacuta, 8k in, NEEDLE-TAILED SwiFT. Head greenish black; forehead white; back brown ; wings dark green with a little white on secondaries; throat, breast, and under tail coverts white ; tail shafts ending in spines. The Needle-tailed Swift—Dimensions, Ho—is an Asiatic, which has been added to the British List on the strength of two specimens only, one shot in 1846 and the other in 1879. Nothing is known of its eggs, but it is said to breed in Tibet and thereabouts. As the two British victims are the only two ever heard of in Europe, and as the bird is a regular visitor te Australia, it is not unlikely that our specimens were brought home as examples of the Colonial avifauna to be promptly shot on escape, and so made into British Birds, Accentor. Plate iv. ACCENTORIN—is one of our regular winter visitors. It makes a great splash as it rises, and a great noise as it flies with its whistling wings. Its note is a loud **kr-kroak.””? The male’s bill is black, the female’s brown. This duck lays its eggs in the hole of a tree as if it were a Woodpecker. ‘There is no nest beyond the chips of wood that may be in the hole. The clutch ranges from 10 to 19. Coccothraustes. Plate vii. FRINGILLINZ (Passeridz). g2. vulgaris, z7in. HAWFINCH. Chestnut brown above; nape grey; wings purplish black; five inner primaries jagged or hooked at the tips; black patch on chin; bill bluish or pinkish and very large. The Hawfinch—Dimensions, Fe; Eggs, Fp—is a resident reinforced in winter by migrants from the north. It is at once recognisable by its large beak. Its flight is generally an undulated one, but often it is straight and rapid. Its song is a whistle of four notes in aa ascending scale, and its call isa ‘‘click.’? The female has much less black on the throat than the male, and has the secondaries edged with bluish grey. The nest is a large edition of the bullfinch’s, usually in an old tree from 5 to 25 feet from the ground, built of small twigs and grey lichens lined with rootlets and hair, but with a very shallow cavity for the eggs, which are from four to six in number. Coccystes. Plate xii. CUCULIDA, 158. glandarius, 16in. GREAT SPOTTED Cuckoo. Crest, head, and nape bluish grey streaked with black; plumage brown above, white beneath; wings spotted with white, A Great Spotted Cuckoo—Dimensions, Nb; Eggs, Ta appeared, off the coast of Connemara, in 1842, and another was bagged in Northumberland in 1870, These are the only two instances on record of the species ever visiting these islands, Coccyzus. Plate xii, CUCULIDA, Isg. americanus, 13in. YELLOW-BILLED Cuckoo. Dark drab above, greyish white below ; tail black, tipped with white, except the centre feathers, which are of the same colour as the back ; bill yellow. 160, erythrophthalmus, 13 in. BLACK-BILLED Cuckoo. Brown above, white below ; bill black. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo—Dimensions, Kq; Eggs, Hr—is the American Rain-bird. Its cry is ‘‘ cow, cow, cow, cow, cow.” Unlike our Cuckoo it generally builds its own nest and hatches its own eggs. It has only been recognised in Britain twice, and twice in Ireland. The Black-billed Cuckoo—Dimensions, Kp; Eggs, GM—is another American of normal breeding arrangements. Only once, however, has he crossed the Atlantic, and that was to be shot at Belfast, in 1871. Like the Yellow-bills he probably came by steamboat. Columba, Plate xxiii. COLUMBIDAL 265. livia, irin. Rock Dove. Bill black; plumage bluish grey; trump white; two broad black bars on wings, axillaries white ; legs dark red. 264. @nas, 1g3in. Stock Dove. Bill red at base, white at tip; plumage bluish grey; green patch on neck ; one bar only on wing and that brown and incomplete ; axillaries grey ; legs coral red. 263. palumbus, 16in, RING Dove. Bill red at base, yellow at tip; plumage brownish grey; white patch on neck; white on outer wing coverts ; legs bright red. The Rock Dove—Dimensions, Jp; Eggs, Jo—is to be found all the year round on our coasts wherever there are high cliffs and deep caves, It rarely is seen on a tree, as it alway's alights on a rock or on the ground. —_Like all the pigeons it bobs its head as it walks. As it rises it beats the ground with its wings and produces a peculiar crackle by doing so; its flight is rapid; and so powerfully are the wings worked that they whistle as they flap. Its note is ‘coo-coo-roo-coo,’? The female is smaller than the male and duller about the neck. THE SPECIES, 89 The nest is always in caves, and often dry only at low water ; it is a very slight flat arrange- ment of seaweed, grass, and sticks, with now and then a sprig of heather. There are two eggs. The Stock Dove—Dimensions, Kr ; Eggs, Je—is most abundant in the Midlands, Its note is a short ‘‘coo-o0.” Its flight is light and swift, with busy beats and a glide downwards. The female is not so pink on the chest as the male, ‘Ihe eggs are Jaidina rabbit-burrow, or in a hole in a tree, and generally no nest is built, but sometimes a few twigs and roots are scratched together, The Ring Dove—Dimensions, Ng; Eggs, Kr—is the well known Wood Pigeon. Its note is ‘‘coo-00-coo, coo-o0-coo,” and it is easily recognisable on the wing by its white collar and wing bars. Its flight is light, deliberate, and persistent, and its gait is of the strutting, head-bobbing variety. Its nest is generally in a tree, and so lightly built of sticks ee the two eggs can be seen in it from below, ‘The female has a fainter collar than the male. Colymbus. Plate xxxii. COLYMB/D:. 383. septentrionalis,24in. RED-THROATED DIveR. Throat grey and red head streaked black and white and patched with grey; bill black. 382. arcticus, 26in, BLACK-THROATED Diver. Throat black; head streaked with black and white and patched with grey; bill black. 380. glacialis, 33 in. GREAT NORTHERN DIver. Throat with two black rings, and two black and white rings streaked vertically ; bill black. 381. adams, 36in. YELLOW-BILLED Diver. Throat with black and black and white rings; bill pale yellow. The Red-throated Diver—Dimensions, Qo; Eggs, Ro—is the commonest of the family in this country and breeds in the North of Scotland and the islands off the coast. Its dusky brown back is streaked with oval spots. Its legs are greenish black, and its feet are yellowish, In autumn the red on the throat is not always present. In winter the browns ae greys, and the underparts are pure white. This bird is the Rain Goose, whose call “ak-ak-kakera-kakera,” is rarely heard except when rain is approaching. The female is initine in plumage to the male. There is no nest as a rule, although now and then the hollow in which the eggs are laid may be lined with a few leaves, There are two eggs, and they are generally laid so near the water as to be wet underneath. The Black-throated Diver—Dimensions, Rm; Eggs, Sc—is rarer, but is also found breeding in the north country. It may be known from the Red-throat by its having red eyes instead of brown. In winter it is brown above, with white spots, and pure white below. There are about a dozen white bars on the scapulars, which are constant all the year round. The sexes are alike in plumage. ‘The flight is very swift and soisthe diving. The note is a noisy ‘‘deoch! deoch! deoch ! tha’n loch a traoghadh,”” which is the Gaelic rendering of “ drink | drink! drink ! the loch is nearly dry!’’ ‘The nest is of reeds and water plants, lined with grass, and is generally so near the water as to be half afloat. There are two eggs. The Great Northern Diver—Dimensions, Sm; Eggs, Sm—lIoses the throat band in the winter and becomes brown above, with a great increase of the white spots. Its eyes are red. It breeds inthe Western Isles, The flight is rapid and straight, and the crya ‘‘who? who?’” generally heard at night, with an occasional “karok.”” ‘There are two or three eggs; the nest is of reeds and water plants, and can be recognised by the bird making a path to it from the water, The sexes are alike in plumage. The Yellow-billed Diver—Dimensions, Ss; Eggs, Sk—sometimes called the White-billed Diver, is an American straggler of which only a few specimens have been identified in this country, the first having been shot at Lowestoft, in 1852. Coracias. Plate xii. CORACHIID AZ 153. garrula, 13in. ROLLER. Head and nape green or blue; mantle chestnut ; wings black, and light and dark blue; chin white ; underparts blue or green ; 23 remiges ; first primary short, second, third, and fourth longest; tarsus scutellate in front and reticulate at back, The Roller—Dimensions, Ks; Eggs, Jc—has been noticed here about a hundred times since it was first recorded by Religio Medici Browne, in 1644. Its flight is like a Tumbler n 90 THE SPECIES. Pigeon’s, rapid and acrobatic. It would seem to be the total abstainer of the bird-world, for we are gravely assured that ‘it has never been known to drink.” Not unnaturally, its cry is a peculiarly dry and thirsty “‘rakker-rakker-crea.” This handsome but eccentric stragglers seems to prefer a telegraph wire as a perch. Corvus. Plate ix. CORVINAZ (Passeridz). 127. monedula, 14in, JACKDAW. Cindery, with grey collar; iris white. 128. corone, 18 in. CARRION Crow. Greenish black ; nostrils always feathered. 129. cornix, 1gin. HoopED Crow. Grey and black; hood black, wings black, tail black, other parts grey. 130. frugilegus, 20in. RooK. Purplish black, with blue reflections ; bal2 over nostrils, lores, and throat. I3I. corax, 24in. RAVEN. Glossy steel black, with green and purple reflections; bill black and strong; lanceolate throat feathers, The Jackdaw—Dimensions, Mc ; Eggs, J1—is one of our most popular residents, When on the wing its progress is of the yawing, unsteady variety. Its call isa “‘ kae," which some have imagined to resemble ‘‘ Jack,” while others will have it that it is ‘“‘ daw,’’"—but, then, a Jackdaw will say anything, and do anything, to oblige. ‘The female is smaller than the male, and has the grey collar somewhat obscure. The nest, in which there are from four to six eggs, is an untidy heap of miscellaneous matter, in some tower, or wall, or chimney, or tree, or in any hole—even in a rabbit-burrow ; and where there is one there are generally many. The Carrion Crow—Dimensions, Om; Eggs, Kr—is generally found in woods near the sea and inland waters. It has whitish bases to its body feathers; it has a stouter bill than the Rook, and a more laboured flight, besides a quicker walk, and a curious habit of keeping its bill tothe ground ; and it is generally found alone orin pairs. Its cry isa ‘*croak-uk-uk"’; or ‘ There’s a hog dead! Where? where? Upthe burn! upthe burn! Is’t fat? Is’t fat? It’s acreesh! It’s acreesh!” Its nest is of sticks, with the twigs inside plastered over with mud, the lining being of wool and feathers ; and it is generally placed in the fork of the main trunk of a tree, or on arocky ledge. ‘There are from three to six eggs. The female is rather browner than the male. The Hooded Crow—Dimensions, Pb; Eggs, KG—is retained in the list, though generally admitted to be a variety of C. covone, not breeding true to colour. Its eggs are said to be smaller, and they appear as such in our table ; but the birds themselves, in measured speci- mens, are certainly larger on the average. The Rook—Dimensions, Pi; Eggs, Kz—has a feathere:i beak during its first year, but the young can be distinguished from those of the two preceding Crows by the inside of the mouth being of dark flesh-colour, turning to purplish, instead of being of a very pale tint. The bases of its body feathers are grey, with no white. ‘lhe flight 1s straight and assured, easy and regular, with the primaries extended so that their tips look like short fingers. The Rook is often very noisy on the wing, with his well-known ‘'caw"—the characteristic call of the Corvidz. Rooks are not often alone; they are generally in straggling flocks ; and they build incolonies. The nest, in the top of a tall tree, is a large one of sticks and twigs, plastered with mud, and lined with grass and moss and wool ; the cavity is rather deep, and contains ‘rom three to five eggs. The Raven—Dimensions, Rc ; Eggs, Mm—is yearly becoming rarer. It has the boldest flight of all the Corvidz ; with its neck and feet drawn in, it floats high over the mountain- tops, leisurely, steady, and self-possessed, and then sweeps off, as if to be punctual to an appointment, Its note is a hoarse ‘‘ cawruk,” or a ‘‘craugh,” with a bark when attacked, and an occasional ‘‘gorbel.’’ The nest, now generally found on some rocky cliff, but formerly ‘nore frequent in lofty trees, isan unplastered mass of sticks, lined with twigs and grass and wool. The eggs are from four to six in number. The female is not so iridescent in plumage as the male, and she is generally smalle:. Cosmonetta. Plate xxii, ANATID A: 252. histrionica, 17in. HARLEQUIN. Gaily striped and spotted; wing speculum purple, The Harlequin Duck—Dimensions, Np; Eggs, Oo—has a beak like a goose, with a small lobe at each side, and its tail ie not nearly so long as that of the Long-tailed Duck for which it is occasionally mistaken. It is an Icelandic species usually visiting us in the winter, {+ has a swift and powerful flight, and is the most daring of swimmers among rapids and waterfalls. Its note is a loud croak, a sort of ‘‘ eck, eck.” The female is of smaller size, and is i in plumage, with a white patch on the forehead, and a brown stripe across the eye-patcl THE SPECIES. 9) dturnix. Plate xxiv, PHASIA NIDA 276. communis, 7in. QuatiL. Back light brown, marked with black and streaked with buff. The Quail—Dimensions, Fl; Eggs, Gz—is a resident, reinforced by spring migrants which some years are very numerous. It is one of those birds who are never seen to perch ; and s flight is short, quick, whirring, about a yard from the ground. Its note is the flute-like weet-my-feet,” or ‘ clook-look-leek,”’ for which it is occasionally kept as a song bird. ‘I'he male is larger than the male, and has a buff throat, while that of the male is black, The ‘st is a mere hollow in the ground. It contains from 5 to 12 eggs. tex. Plate xxiv. RALLIDA. 281. dbailloni, 7 in. BAILLON’s CRAKE. Bill olive ; under tail coverts black and white ; legs flesh colour. 280. parva, 8in. LITTLE CrAKe. Bill green; no white on first primary ; flanks grey ; legs green. 279. maruetta, gin. SPOTTED CRAKE. Bill yellow; axillaries barred with white ; under tail coverts buff; legs green. 278. pratensis, ioin. CORN CRAKE. Bill flesh colour; axillaries chest- nut ; legs flesh colour, Baillon’s Crake—Dimensions, Fa; Eggs Gk—is a rarity said by some to be resident, by hers to be only a spring visitor. It lurks about pools and marshes, is an excellent zimmer, diver, walker, and runner, and has a short heavy flight, hanging its legs down as they were broken. The base of its bill is red ; its eyes are red ; the outer web of its first ‘imary is white; and its flanks are black and white in bars. Its note is a whistle, with a kik, kik,’’ as analarm. The female has a white chin. The nest is loosely made of water ants, and is placed in a swamp ; and there are from five to eight eggs. The Little Crake—Dimensions, Gp ; Eggs, Hm—has been found here a few times in spring id autumn. Jt has a low unsteady flight, and runs well over land and over water plants, id swims well and dives boldly, and, like all the rails, hides itself in the water with only its 2ak above the surface. Its note is a loud whistle, with a “kek, kek’’ alarm. The female is a pearly grey patch round the eye. The Spotted Crake—Dimensions, Hr ; Eggs, Ic—is generally said to be a spring visitor, tough some claim it as a resident. It hangs its legs as it flies, and makes the most of its ‘oad wings, but its flight is low and wavering, and rarely prolonged, as it will always run if can, taking very long strides, The nest is generally on a tussock surrounded by water, a ass of leaves and dead reeds, in which the eggs are often quite wet. There are from 8 tu 12 rgs. The female is a smaller and browner bird than the male, The Corn Crake, otherwise the Land Rail—Dimensions, Jh; Eggs, JA—is one of our immer migrants. It is a short-tailed bird, with a flight of the brief and fluttering kind, hich becomes unexpectedly vigorous when in full swing. When pursued, this bird prefers ‘run and to climb, and it never runs straight, but makes as many turnings as a hare. Its ote is the ‘‘crake-crake,” from which it takes its name. The nest is on the ground, in a »rnfield or meadow ; it is generally in a hollow and is made of grass and lined with grass. he eggs are from 7 torzinnumber. The female is smaller and not so grey as the male,’ uculus. Plate xii. CUCULIDA. 157. canorus, 14in. Cuckoo. Slate grey and brown above; wings slightly spotted with white ; tail tipped with white - lower parts buffish white, barred with black, similar to Sparrow Hawk; remiges, 19 ; first primary short fourth and fifth longest ; tail feathers, 10; contour feathers with no aftershaft. The Cuckoo—Dimensions, Md; Eggs, Fa—is a summer migrant, appearing here in April, ad generally leaving us early in August, though the young ones linger on till well into eptember. The male Cuckoos come first, and the males are always in a majority. The uckoo ranges as far eastward as Japan, and as far south as Abyssinia. The note in April id May is the familiar “ cuck-oo0,’’ but in June this changes to *‘ cuck-cuck-oo,” and in July » “cuck-o0-00""; but the bird has another note, a sort of chuckle; and the female has a cry “her own, a chattering “‘ kwow-ow-wow.” The cuckoo calls on the wing, and also when at sst. The flight is hurried and straight, with an occasional twist and swoop, the long tail zing held out horizontally, the white in the plumage being well shown. Sometimes the ‘ey of the plumage is brown, but the brown bird is not necessarily a female, although she in always be recognised by a rufous tinge on the breast. Instances are on record of the uckoo’s hatching its own eggs, but the evidence is not generally accepted ; usually there is > nest, the egg being laid on the ground, and then carried in the mouth, and placed in the na é. g2 THE SPECIES. nest of some other bird. Asarule, the nest chosen is that of a Meadow Pipit or a Pied Wag- tail; but Hedge Sparrows, Warblers, Wrens, Redstarts, Magpies, Jays, Shrikes, Finches, Buntings, Pigeons, and even Little Grebes, have been made to do duty as foster parents of the Cuckoo. ‘The eggs are laid at intervals of a week or more. and there are several of them; they vary much in colour, but not so much as those of the Guillemot. They are often some- what of the colour of the eggs among which they are placed ; the Cuckoo does not, however, colour her egg to suit the nest, but wanders about with it until she finds a suitable clutch, and she would seem to be easily satisfied. for the egg is in nine cases out of ten unmistakable, and can be instantly distinguished from the rest by its colour, as well as by its shape and size, Cursorius. Plate xxvi, CHARADRIDA, 292. gallicus, Io in. CREAM-COLOURED CouRSER, Sandy buff, spotted and edged with black; black streak from eye to nape; primaries black ; outer web of secondaries buff; axillaries black ; bill black; tail not forked ; legs grey ; tarsus scutellate, The Cream-coloured Courser—Dimensions, Ip; Eggs, Iu—is a Mediterranean species now and then straying here during the last three months of the year. Cyanecula. Plate ii. TURDIN (Passeridz), 1g. wolf, 53 in. WHITE SPOTTED BLUE-THROAT, Blue throat, white centre. 20, succica, ssin. RED SPOTTED BLUE-THROAT. Blue throat, red centre. The Blue-Throats—Dimensions, Cc and Cd; Eggs, BM—only differ from each other in the colour of the spot. They are not often seen in this country; in fact, there is a doubt as to whether the white one comes here at all. The flight is a short, dipping one, and the bird sings as he flies, and as he alights with outspread wings. The song is said to be recognisable by its always ending with “‘ ting-ting.”’ ” Cygnus. Plate xx, ANATIDA, 232. bewicki, 50in. BEWICK'’s SwAN. Bill, as far as nostrils, yellow; the rest black, 230. americanus, 55in. AMERICAN SWAN. Orange patches at base of bill. 228. immutabilis, 60in, POLISH SWAN. Bill red, with small black tubercle. 229. musicus, 6oin. Hooper Swan. Bill, to below nostrils, yellow ; the rest black ; remiges 34. 231. buccinator, 6oin, ‘TRUMPETER SWAN. Bill black. 227. olor, 60in, MUTE Swan. Bill all reddish yellow, with large black tubercle ; remiges 31. _ Bewick's Swan—Dimenstons, Tl; Eggs, Sp—is an occasional visitor to this country from its breeding haunts in Siberia. Its note is tong,” or ‘‘ a-kloong.’”” The American Swan—Dimensions, Tm—owes its place on the list from its having been found in a poulterer’s shop at Edinburgh. The Polish Swan—Dimensions, To—is generally considered to be merely a variety of the Mute Swan. It owes its specific name to the fact of the cygnets being white; although called Polish it is unknown in Poland, and, in fact, has only been found once outside the British Islands, and that was in the case of a solitary specimen from Haarlem, in 1840. _ The Hooper Swan—Dimensions, Tq ; Eggs, Sq—was at one time one of our residents, but is now only a winter visitor. It was formerly called the Whistling Swan, from its call of ‘‘hoop,”’ like the base note of a trombone. The Trumpeter Swan—Dimensions, Tp—is an American, claimed as British on the strength of four birds shot at Aldeburgh, in 1866. The Mute Swan—Dimensions, Tr ; Eggs, Sr—is ¢he Swan, the largest and handsomest oi British birds, said by some to have been brought here from Cyprus over seven hundred years ago. No bird dare attack the swan when on the wing. He flies high and fearlessly, with his neck out at full stretch, and his wings audibly swishing in a flap somewhat like a heron’s. Swans journey in files or ex echelon, the birds taking it in turns to lead, and falling to the rear as they tire. The Swan is only mute by name. He hisses like a goose, gives a low trumpet- like *‘ maul,” and according to some people, even “ sings ”” at other times than just before his death. The Swan’s nest is usually on a small island, and it is a large mass of reeds and other water plants. There are from five to eight eggs. The female has a smaller tubercle a Sai male, and swims much lower in the water. The young ase grey, with bluish beaks and legs. THE SPECIES. 93 Jypselus. Plate x. GVPSELIDA. 138, apus, zin, Swirt. Plumage black; chin and upper throat greyish white. 139. melba, 8in. ALPINE Swift. Plumage dark brown; white below, with a broad brown band on chest. The Swift—Dimensions, Fp; Eggs, Fk—comes in April, and is occasionally found as late is November. In flight the narrow wings are almost at a right angle, rapidly beating for a noment or so, and then held motionless, as the bird glides along, curving and swaying in ‘esponse to the working of the tail. The note is a screaming ‘‘ swee-ree-ee.” The sexes ure like in plumage, the young having rather more white about them than the adults. ‘The nest s in a hole in some cliff or building, generally high up ; and it is returned to year after year. ‘tis made of straw and dry grass, and other light materials, stuck fogatiee with saliva is if with glue, and lined with feathers; it is flat in shape, and contains from two to four ‘ges. The Alpine Swift—Dimensions, He ; Eggs, Ho—is a rare summer visitor, never known to oreed here. The note is a louder scream than that of the Swift, and the flight is more power- ul, with a glide ‘‘ like the shoot of a Kestrel.” Jafila. Plate xxi, ANATIDA 238. acuta, 26 in. PINTAIL, Wing bar iridescent green; tail of 16 feathers and pointed ; neck long. The Pintail—Dimensions, Rn; Eggs, Ns—is an uncommon resident, whose numbers are sreatly reinforced in the winter by migrants from the north, and in spring by migrants eturning from the south. The male’s beak is black, with pale blue under the nostrils, while he female’s beak is greyish black above, and reddish brown below. The male has the ong tail which has given him his name of Sea Pheasant ; the female is a brown bird with a orownish wing bar, and is not so large as the male. In summer the male is not unlike the male, and his beak is blue, The Hight is of the ordinary duck character. ‘Lhe note is a ow ‘“quaark,.”” The nest is on the ground ; it is made of dead grass and sedge, and lined vith brown down having faint white tips. There are from five to nine eggs. Jaulias. Plate ii. TURDINZ (Passeride), 22. luscinia, 64 in. NIGHTINGALE. Reddish brown above; buffish below ; tail reddish brown; first primary longer than primary coverts. The Nightingale—Dimensions, Ea; Eggs, Ec—comes in the second week of April, and eaves us in September, although the song generally ceases in the first week in June. He ‘ings only until the eggs are hatched, and then he croaks ; but if the brocd be destroyed, he ‘ings again, to wind up with a croak again. The best rendering of the famous song is the french one quoted by Macgillivray: ‘‘ Le bon Dieu m’a donné une femme, que j'ai tant, tant, ant, tant battue ; que s’il m’en donne une autre, je ne la batterais plus, plus, plus, plus, qu'un retit, qu’un petit, qu'un petit!” The Nightingale is not the only bird that sings at night; ind he often sings in the daytime. His flight is buoyant and quick and smooth, and senerally short, for he skulks in the underwood, among the hazels, and rarely takes to the ypen. ‘The female is like the male, but the young are spotted like young robins. The nest s near the ground, sometimes on it, in a hedge-bank, or under a bush; and is generally of lead oak leaves and grass, lined with rootlets and hair; there are from four to six eggs. ictopistes. Plate xxiii. COLUMBIDAs. 267. migratorius, 16in. PASSENGER PIGEON. Head slate blue; throat, breast, and sides reddish hazel; back dark slate ; wings black, brown, and white. The Passenger Pigeon— Dimensions, Nd; Eggs, Jy—is an American bird, whose best laim to be British seems to be based on some specimens brought over here in a basket and hot when they escaped. According to Seebohm, ‘‘there is no reason why this bird should not ross the Atlantic if it felt so disposed ; but there is not the slightest evidence that it has ver done so.” ‘lanoides. Plate xv. FALCONID 4. 186. furcatus, 25in. SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. Bill black; cere blue ; head and neck white; back black and rump white ; under parts white; wings greenish black and very long; tail purplish black, very long, and much forked. The Swallow-tailed Kite—Dimensions, Rj; Eggs, Mu—is an American from the Mississippi nown in no other country of Europe than Britain, and only known here by two specimens, 1e fist of which arrived in 1772 and the other in 1823. 94 THE SPECIES. Elanus, Plate xv. FALCONID. 187. caeruleus, 13 in. BLACK-WINGED KITE, White forehead; white eye stripe; grey above; white below; small wing coverts black. The Black-winged Kite—Dimensions, Lf—sent a solitary representative from the tropics to be made into a British bird by an untimely death in County Meath, in 1862. Emberiza. Pilate viii. EMBERIZINZ (Passeridz). 115. pusilla, 42 in. Lirrte BuNnTiInG. Head chestnut, striped with black ; throat reddish white ; breast streaked with black, Im4. rustica, shin. Rustic BuNTING. Head brown, with black crown and sides ; throat white ; rufous band on chest. 116. scheniclus, 53in. REED BUNTING. Head black, eye stripe white ; throat black ; lower breast white. 112, cirlus, 6 in. Cir~t Buntinc. Head olive brown, eye stripe yellow, lores and ear coverts black ; throat black and yellow ; breast chestnut and yellow. 113. ortulana, 6}in. ORTOLAN BUNTING. Head greenish grey; throat yellow ; breast reddish buff; a yellow ring round eye. ur. citrinella, 6kin. YELLOW BuNTING. Head yellow ; throat yellow ; breast yellow—all with chestnut streaks, 109. melanocephala, 62in. BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. Head and ear coverts black ; throat yellow ; breast yellow. 110. miliaria, 7 in. CORN BUNTING. Head brown, spotted and streaked ; throat whitish, with angular brown spots at side. A Little Bunting—Dimensions, Aq; Eggs, Bn—was found by a boy in Sussex, in 1864; the first, and apparently the last, to be identified in this country. The Rustic Bunting—Dimensions, Cf; Eggs, Ds—has been found here three times, the first record being in 1867. The Reed Bunting—Dimensions, Cr; Eggs, Ca—is with us all the year reund. It is known by its monotonous double note repeated several times and ended with a long drawl. Its flight is a dipping one, ending in a flutter of the wings and a sudden spread of the tail so as to show the white. The female has no black on the head and throat which are reddish brown. In winter the black and white of the male are edged with brown. The nest is on the ground, or near it, always in a swampy place; and it is made of moss, grass, and reeds, lined with reed flowers and horsehair. The eggs are from three to six in number. The Cirl Bunting—Dimensions, Dh ; Eggs, Ec—was discovered by Monta u, at Kings. bridge, in 1800, and isa not uncommon resident south of the Thames. Its note is * tirrilirrilul, oe and its call “chea-chee.” Its flight is swift and graceful, with a long dip and a rise. Its nest, in which there are four or five eggs, is generally on the ground, or in a furze bush, and consists of dried grass, moss, and roots, often, but not always, lined with hair. The female has black in the crown, and the eye stripe pale yellow, but in winter the plumage of male and female is much duller than in spring. The Ortolan Bunting—Dimensions, Ec ; Eggs,‘Dr—occasionally comes here in the spring, but does not breed here. Most of those recorded are probably escapes from the poulterer’s, The Yellow Bunting—Dimensions, Ej ; Eggs, Eq—is the Yellow Ammer (so called to distinguish it from the other Ammers grouped under the Latinisation of Emberiza), to which some cockney humorist prefixed an ‘‘h”’ which seems so difficult to remove that it has been thought better to give the bird its older name, Its flight is quick and undulating, with a characteristic wheel in the air, and a Jerk of the tail on alighting. Its note is the often quoted “little bit of bread and no cheese !’” with an emphasis on the “no * * and the ‘ ‘ cheese 5 ”” or in its Scottish form, *‘ deil, deil, deil, tak’ ye!’’ The call is a “‘ chick, chick, churrr,”” Itis asserted that this bird invariably sings at three o’clock in the afternoon, and certainly a good many of them seem to do sO. The streaks in the male’s crown are brown; in the female's they are black, and there is much less yellow about her. In summer the male’s crown is often pure yellow. The nest is generally on a hedge bank, and always near, or on, the ground. It is made of dry grass and moss, with finer grass, and roots, and horsehair ; and contains four or five eggs, The Black-headed Bunting—Dimensions, Eq; Eggs Ei—is an Asiatic, occasionally straying here. THE SPECIES, 95 The Corn Bunting—Dimensions, Fd; Eggs, Fn—is one of our uncommon, but widely Stributed and partially migrating residents. It has a whirring, slightly undulating flight, ith the legs dangling until it gets fairly under way ; and on the ground it both hops and ins. Its note is a ‘' tees-ees-ees,” with a peculiar skirl described as resembling a jingling iain, the alarm being ‘‘ tzit-kaak.”” The sexes are alike in plumage, and in the winter both ‘e darker above and buffer below. The nest is generally on or near the ground, often in the iddle of a field, among coarse grass or young corn. It is a loose affair of straw and grass, ith perhaps a little moss, lined with roots and hair, and contains four, five, or six eggs. rithacus. Plate ii, TURDIN