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 '
 
 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 " Ten thousand warblers cheer the day, and one 
 The live-long night ; nor these aloue, whose notes 
 Nice- fingered art must emulate in vain; 
 But cawing rooks, and kites that swim sublime 
 In still repeated circles, screaming loud : 
 The jay, the pie, and e'en the boding owl 
 That hails the rising moon, have charms for me." 
 
 COWPEH. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY; 
 
 56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD ; 
 
 AND 164, PICCADILLY : 
 AXD SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
 
 LQVDOS: PRIWTBD BT W. CLOWM AHD 8OK8, STANFORD 8TRIKT.
 
 PBEFACE. 
 
 I BELIEVE it is not often that young persons trouble 
 themselves to read the preface of any book which 
 is put into their hands. I hope, however, the 
 readers of this little work will give an attentive 
 perusal to its preface, since it will be found to 
 contain useful information which would not be so 
 suitably given elsewhere. 
 
 Probably you may expect, in a book on British 
 birds, that mention should be made of those you 
 see in the farm-yard, such as the turkey, the 
 peacock, the common fowl, and others. Now, 
 these birds, which are what we call " domestic 
 fowls," are not natives of our country, nor volun- 
 tary sojourners here, living in a state of nature, and 
 providing for their own sustenance. They are 
 foreigners, dependent on man for their daily 
 
 2091181
 
 6 PREFACE. 
 
 supply, and in subjection to him. They there- 
 fore have no place in a history of British birds, 
 and it is only by a sort of permitted license that 
 they are found introduced into such works. Lest, 
 however, any should be disappointed and at a loss 
 in not finding them noticed in this work, a short 
 account of them shall be given here. 
 
 THE DOMESTIC FOWL is of Indian origin. Our 
 original breed has multiplied into numerous 
 varieties, and great, indeed, is the extent to which 
 the passion for rearing them has been carried, 
 as has been seen in the exhibitions of the 
 Cochin-China and other breeds. At what period, 
 or how, the fowl was introduced into the British 
 isles, it is now impossible to ascertain ; but it 
 must have been very early, since it was among 
 the things forbidden by the Druids as food. 
 
 These household birds seem, like the faithful 
 dog, especially intended for the service of man. 
 as, with the exception of North and South 
 America and the great Australian continent, there 
 is scarcely any portion of the globe where poultry 
 have not been known and cherished from a very 
 remote period.
 
 PREFACE. 7 
 
 The origin of our TURKEY is the wild bird of 
 Mexico. It was domesticated by the Indians, 
 before the discovery of America, and brought to 
 Europe by the Spaniards. These birds are now 
 so extensively spread, that in some parts of the 
 continent they have nearly returned to their 
 original wild state. In their native wilds of North 
 America, they herd together in large flocks, but 
 are becoming more scarce, being driven from their 
 accustomed haunts by the settlers, \vho have 
 taken possession of their land. The following 
 account of them is given by a traveller in that 
 country. " I was awakened in the morning early 
 by the cheering converse of the wild turkey-cocks, 
 saluting each other from the sun-brightened tops 
 of the lofty cypress and magnolia. They begin at 
 early dawn, and continue till sunrise. The high 
 forests ring with the noise of these social sentinels, 
 the watchword being caught and repeated from 
 one to another for hundreds of miles around, 
 insomuch that the whole country is, for an hour or 
 more, in a universal shout." 
 
 Tame turkeys, like all animals in a state of 
 domestication, are of various colours : but it is 
 needless to speak of a bird known to every one.
 
 8 PREFACE. 
 
 The greatest weight they can be made to attain is 
 thirty pounds ; those great birds which are sent to 
 the London markets about Christmas, principally 
 from Norfolk, frequently weighing from twenty to 
 twenty-five pounds. 
 
 THE COMMON GUIXEA FOWL, or Pintado, is too 
 well known to require any description. This 
 species, now so common, was originally brought 
 from Africa ; from whence it has been dispersed 
 over every part of Europe, the West Indies, and 
 America. It is kept in a domestic state almost 
 everywhere, but is not so tame as the turkey, and 
 it submits to restraint with difficulty. 
 
 THE PEACOCKS are among the most gorgeous and 
 beautiful of the feathered race, and have been 
 admired in all ages. The species long naturalized 
 in Europe forms the most striking ornament of 
 our poultry yards and aviaries. It is a native of 
 India, where, in some districts, it is very abundant. 
 The manners of this superb bird, in a state of 
 domestication, are familiar to all ; but, perhaps, it 
 is not generally known that, while in common 
 with all our domestic poultry, it eats worms, 
 insects, larvae, and the like, the pea-fowl is a 
 decided enemy to snakes and lizards, which it
 
 PREFACE. 9 
 
 eagerly devours. The first notice taken of these 
 birds, is to be found in the Bible, (2 Chron. ix. 21,) 
 where we are told that they made part of the 
 cargoes of the rich and valuable fleet which every 
 three years imported the treasures of the east to 
 Solomon's court. 
 
 Our domestic GEESE are descended from the 
 Marsh or Fen goose, which is a species more easily 
 tamed than some others, particularly if taken 
 young. How many benefits we derive from it, 
 in various ways, we all know, and many particu- 
 lars respecting this bird in its domesticated state 
 are given in that part of the volume on British 
 Water Birds which refers to the wild species. 
 
 Our common tame DUCK also owes its origin to 
 the wild species called the Mallard, but has long 
 been domesticated ; and has lost in the process 
 the quick, keen, sprightly look and shape, which 
 distinguish the wild bird. It is said that the 
 Chinese, of all people in the world, are the most 
 skilful in the management of poultry, particu- 
 larly of ducks; and there seems little doubt that, 
 by proper management, much improvement might 
 be made in this, as well as in others of our 
 domestic birds.
 
 10 PREFACE. 
 
 Having thus introduced, in few words, the fea- 
 thered inhabitants of the farm-yard to the reader's 
 notice, I will add a few observations which I much 
 hope will be read and remembered. In the study 
 of the natural history of birds, which this book 
 is meant to assist you in commencing, you will 
 find, if you enter on it aright, a source of high 
 delight, and lively interest and instruction. Birds 
 are, perhaps, the most purely pleasure-inspiring 
 of all the living-creatures we see around us. They 
 are full of attraction, when we consider the 
 elegance of their form, the beauty of their colours, 
 the variety and grace of their movements, and the 
 sweet melody of song with which they charm our 
 ears ; and you may always enjoy the pleasure they 
 afford, since, go where you will, be the place and 
 season what they may, there is always a bird to 
 be found, which, attentively considered, will afford 
 you instruction and pleasure. All creation claims 
 our attention, and amply rewards our research; 
 and perhaps it is not too much to say, that the 
 study of birds is not only one of the best and most 
 certain sources of rational enjoyment, but that it 
 is one which leads, more directly than most others, 
 to the love, and consequently to the study and
 
 PREFACE. 11 
 
 knowledge, of all the wide kingdom of nature and 
 of nature's Divine Author. 
 
 Happy the young naturalist who early takes 
 delight in studying that fair book which, on every 
 side, sweetly invites him to learn by its instruc- 
 tions to look upward to the great God and Father 
 of all. Then only will he know the true uses, and 
 enjoy the highest delights, of these wondrous and 
 beautiful works when he " searches them out," 
 and " takes pleasure therein," as the handiworks 
 of his God and Saviour, while with a humble and 
 loving spirit he offers praise to him from a heart 
 renewed by God's grace, and consecrated to his 
 service. To such a one 
 
 " Nature with open volume stands 
 
 To spread her Maker's praise abroad ; 
 And every labour of his hands 
 
 Shows something worthy of a God." 
 
 And nature leads us, when we have deeply read 
 its lessons, and prayerfully studied its mysteries, 
 to feel that " the whole creation " stands in need of 
 a Eedeemer who shall rescue both man and beast 
 from those dire results of sin, beneath which they 
 groan and travail in pain together until now.* 
 * Eom. viii. 22.
 
 12 PREFACE. 
 
 In taking leave of my reader, I would fain 
 impress upon his heart the thought that he cannot 
 truly enjoy and understand the works of God 
 until, reconciled to him, he has, through faith in 
 Christ, obtained the pardon of sin and " the re- 
 newing of the Holy Ghost," who alone can purify 
 his mind from its natural darkness and selfishness, 
 and inspire it with sincere love and generous 
 sympathy for every living creature. An unloving, 
 A selfish, and a complaining spirit stands as a 
 barrier between us and the pure delights afforded 
 by the works of nature ; but a Christian, loving, 
 devout soul is in harmony with the will of God, 
 and rejoices in his works, because they speak his 
 praises and show forth his glory.
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 
 
 THE object of this work being to furnish the 
 young reader with some general facts of interest 
 with reference to our own native birds of various 
 classes, it is not intended to speak on the subject 
 of ornithology in general, but to confine ourselves 
 strictly to the feathered inhabitants of our islands. 
 There are many pleasing and instructive works on 
 ornithology which treat on the formation and 
 habits of birds, and this part of the study is full 
 of interest, and affords scope for much delightful 
 anecdote, illustrative of the instincts and manners 
 of birds. 
 
 "The language and the ways" of the various 
 living creatures with which the earth and the air 
 are replenished must always be of chief interest 
 to those who lovingly and rationally study them. 
 Accordingly, those anecdotes which illustrate the 
 various faculties and passions of animals form the 
 chief attraction of books on natural history, at all
 
 14 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 events to the general and unscientific reader. 
 And if it be true (as Milton assures us it is) 
 that animals " know and reason not contemptibly," 
 how much must the observation of such powers 
 increase our estimate of the value of animal life ; 
 and how carefully should we preserve all the 
 proofs and instances that fall within our notice, of 
 such capabilities in the brute creation ! Those 
 who do so, assist in the good work of awakening 
 a due regard and kindly feeling for the lower 
 animals, and of obtaining for them the protection 
 and consideration they so justly merit. Although 
 it be beyond the province of the present book to 
 go at length into this subject, yet a few words on 
 it may be permitted, seeing that our British birds 
 share, with their congeners of other lands, the 
 traits and habits of which we speak ; and our 
 young readers may be induced, by having their 
 attention turned to such an attractive depart- 
 ment of the subject, to pursue with more interest 
 the study of ornithology in general. 
 
 There are few persons who have it not in their 
 power occasionally to remark the habits of birds, 
 and they who do so will soon find that it is a 
 mistake to impute their peculiarities to instinct 
 alone. There is much carelessness in our usual 
 manner of observing the habits of the animal 
 world; and we lose much by disregarding and
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 15 
 
 neglecting the impulses of the creatures which 
 contribute so much, in various ways, to our com- 
 fort and enjoyment. Who can doubt, if he care- 
 fully watch the habits of our familiar birds, that 
 they give unmistakable evidence of being actu- 
 ated by the passions of love, fear, sympathy, joy, 
 emulation, and so on ? The most powerful of 
 these is, undoubtedly, love, especially in the form 
 of parental aflfection. It is well known 
 that the attachment of birds to their LOVE! 
 young is not exceeded by that of any 
 other creatures. The boldness and sagacity con- 
 tinually manifested by them in the protection 
 and defence of their broods is truly surprising, 
 especially when the natural timidity and defence- 
 lessness of most of the species is considered. 
 During the breeding season their whole existence 
 is absorbed in their duties, and their whole 
 natures undergo a change. Examples of the 
 devoted attachment of the parent birds to their 
 young are so common as to excite no surprise, 
 scarcely, indeed, to awaken interest. And yet, 
 what can be more touching ? 
 
 It is but a short time since an instance of the 
 kind occurred under my notice. Walking in the 
 neighbourhood of a populous city, I was accosted 
 by a couple of grinning urchins, who presented to 
 me a nest containing three callow fledglings, which
 
 16 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 they offered for sale. On inquiry it came out 
 that they had stolen the nest from a hedgerow. 
 " The young birds will die without the mother," 
 said I. " Oh ! we ha' got her too ; she wouldn't 
 leave 'em; so we put her in a cage at home!" 
 Alas ! poor bird ; another victim to maternal 
 love, exercised at the cost of freedom ; dearer 
 to her than life itself! Probably her fate was 
 similar to that of the blackbird, whose nest was 
 stolen by a boy from the Great Park of Windsor, 
 and carried by him, with the young brood it 
 contained, to his house, where he placed it in a 
 cage outside his chamber window. The parent 
 birds were witnesses to the theft, and followed 
 their captive young ones, which they afterwards 
 fed daily until they were fledged. The boy then 
 sold them, one by one, as opportunity afforded, 
 till they were all disposed of. The morning 
 after the last bird was sold, the female blackbird 
 was found dead beneath the cage in which her 
 beloved offspring had been confined. 
 
 It has been remarked by an accurate observer, 
 
 that the natural timidity of birds is a 
 
 great preservative to them. The female 
 
 of almost all birds is invariably silent, or, at least, 
 
 monotonous. If she were disposed to sing during 
 
 the period of incubation, or while rearing the 
 
 young, her place of retreat would be more readily
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 17 
 
 discovered. When disturbed she quits the nest in 
 the most silent and quiet manner possible ; no sound 
 or rustle betrays her movements, nor does she utter 
 a cry of alarm or surprise. When she does give 
 an alarm it is to warn the young brood of danger ; 
 and the hint is speedily acted upon. They are 
 all dispersed and concealed among the long grass 
 and leaves in a twinkling. If a bird of prey be 
 in sight, it is curious to observe the agitation and 
 excitement manifested by the inmates of the 
 poultry yard. A turkey has been seen to crouch, 
 with her whole brood under her, pinned down to 
 the ground as it were, for an hour together, while 
 their formidable foe has remained hovering over- 
 head. At last, upon his disappearance, the trem- 
 bling parent, who had continued piteously crying, 
 suddenly changed her note, and sent forth an- 
 other cry, which immediately restored life to her 
 frightened offspring, and they all emerged from 
 their shelter and flocked around her with expres- 
 sions of delight. 
 
 It is well known that in paroxysms of fear the 
 human hair has, occasionally, turned white 
 almost instantaneously. By whatever process 
 this extraordinary change is effected, we are as- 
 sured by naturalists that it is in full force as 
 regards the feathers of birds ; for although not 
 instantaneous in its operation, it has taken place, 
 
 r c
 
 18 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and the result is visible when the moulting season 
 returns. Dr. Young, in speaking of the change 
 of colour in the plumage of birds from fear, says : 
 " A blackbird had been surprised in its cage by 
 a cat ; when it was relieved, it was found lying on 
 its back and quite wet with sweat. The feathers 
 fell off and were renewed, but the new ones were 
 perfectly white. A grey linnet happened to raise 
 its feathers at a man who was drunk. He in- 
 stantly tore the creature from its cage, and 
 plucked off all its feathers. The poor animal 
 survived the outrage, and had its feathers replaced, 
 but they were also white." 
 
 The sympathy and fellow-feeling shown by 
 birds is another very striking and pleasing 
 
 STJCPATHT * 
 
 feature in them. " These feelings, so 
 
 PEELING, highly characteristic of benevolence and 
 kindness of heart in the human race, are most 
 powerfully felt in the animal world," says Mr. 
 E. P. Thompson, in his valuable work on " The 
 Passions of Animals :" " They are less surpris- 
 ing when extended from one to another by those 
 of the same species, but are particularly so 
 when exercised between those of different habits 
 and orders. There must exist a fellow-feeling, 
 a knowledge of the suffering felt, and a desire 
 to alleviate it faculties so far exceeding the 
 highest degrees of intelligence ordinarily ascribed
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 19 
 
 to the brute creation, that it must be acknow- 
 ledged they are endowed with powers in which 
 instinct takes no share. A wounded crow left 
 in a field, is soon surrounded by its fellows, 
 seeking to assist it; a swallow entangled in its 
 nest by a bit of thread, was immediately aided by 
 other swallows, which flew violently against the 
 thread, with the view of breaking it." 
 
 Birds have been known to feed the young of 
 those whose parents had been destroyed. A 
 gentleman had a young cock thrush brought to 
 him early in the spring. It throve and did well. 
 Some time after a nest of helpless young black- 
 birds was placed in the cage with the thrush. 
 The latter, as if aware they needed his care, fed 
 and brought them all up. 
 
 Dr. Percival, in his " Dissertations," gives a 
 remarkable instance of the sympathy and sagacity 
 of some rooks. He was watching the evolutions 
 of a large colony of these birds which had been 
 established many years in a grove on the banks of 
 the Irwell, near Manchester. As he was thus 
 noticing their various labours and pastimes, a 
 strange accident occurred. A rook, by a sharp 
 and sudden turn, struck his beak against the wing 
 of another. The sufferer instantly fell into the 
 river. A general cry of distress followed, and the 
 birds, with every expression of anxiety, fluttered 
 
 c 2
 
 20 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 over their distressed companion. Apparently ani- 
 mated by their sympathy, or, perchance, by their 
 language of counsel, known to themselves, he 
 sprang into the air, and by one strong effort, con- 
 trived to reach the point of a rock which pro- 
 jected into the river. The joy became loud and 
 universal, but, alas! it was soon changed into 
 notes of lamentation, for the poor wounded bird, 
 while attempting to fly to his nest, dropped again 
 into the river and was drowned, amid the moans 
 of its whole fraternity. 
 
 There is a proverb " As merry as a kitten ;" 
 and who has not watched with pleasure 
 
 JOT A1TD 
 
 PLAYFUL the sportive movements of animals, as they 
 chase each other and indulge in a thousand 
 frolicsome gambols, on a warm summer's evening ? 
 Birds are constantly to be seen engaged in these 
 evolutions, so expressive of joy and delight, that 
 it is impossible to mistake their meaning. 
 
 Very curious are the movements of the crane 
 and the trumpeter. The latter (an American 
 bird) stands on one leg, hops about in the most 
 eccentric manner, and throws somersets. The 
 crane expands its wings, runs round in circles, 
 leaps, and throws little stones and pieces of wood 
 into the air, which it endeavours to catch as they 
 fall, or pretends to avoid, as if afraid. Water 
 birds, such as ducks and geese, dive after each
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 21 
 
 other, and cleave the surface of the water with 
 outstretched neck and flapping wings, throwing 
 the spray in showers about them. 
 
 Birds of the pie kind, which have much of the 
 monkey nature in them, are full of mischief, play, 
 and mimicry. Many stories in point are told of 
 pet birds of this description ; tame magpies, 
 especially delight in playing strange tricks. One 
 of them is said to have been seen busily engaged 
 in a garden, gathering pebbles, and with much 
 gravity dropping them into a hole about eighteen 
 inches deep, which had been made to receive a 
 post. After each stone it dropped, the bird cried, 
 currack ! in a triumphant note, and immediately 
 set off for another. On examination, a poor toad 
 was found in the hole, which the magpie was 
 stoning for his amusement.* 
 
 Much has been said as to the exciting cause of 
 the song of birds, some attributing it to 
 one cause, and some to another. Probably o^~ 
 various causes combine to produce so delight 
 ful an expression of the little creature's emotions. 
 Emulation must undoubtedly be regarded as one 
 powerful provocative to song. Caged birds are 
 frequently observed to sing against each other. 
 
 A very remarkable story is told by Mr. Jesse 
 
 * See " Passions of Animals," p. 63.
 
 22 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 (who vouches for its authenticity) of a gentle- 
 man who possessed an American mocking-bird, 
 in such health and vigour, that it was either con- 
 stantly singing, or else imitating the various 
 sounds it heard. In order to try the powers of 
 this bird its owner purchased a fine sky-lark. 
 When placed in the same room with the mocking- 
 bird, its song was heard to echo through the 
 house. The other was silent for some time after 
 the thrilling carol had ceased : at last it burst 
 forth in the strains of the " aerial songster," but 
 louder and clearer, as if mounting, and stretching 
 its wings heavenward. The lark was silent from 
 that moment, nor was it ever heard to utter a 
 joyous note afterwards. Wishing to test the 
 powers of the mocking-bird still further, the 
 gentleman purchased a blackbird, celebrated for 
 its vocal powers. Early on the morning of the 
 second day after it was placed in the room with 
 the mocking-bird, its charming notes were warbled 
 forth with all the sweetness and modulations which 
 may be heard in its native " thorny brakes." 
 The stranger bird listened, and was still for some 
 time; then, all at once he began to give forth 
 the blackbird's notes ; but even sweeter and louder 
 than those of the woodland songster. The poor 
 blackbird heard them, felt that it was conquered, 
 remained silent, drooped, pined, and died.
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 23 
 
 The same spirit of rivalry is visible in man}' of 
 our domestic birds. What object can be more 
 pitiable than the defeated cock ? He is the very 
 picture of dejection, as, with drooping tail and 
 draggled feathers, he mopes, or slinks away, to 
 hide his fallen vanity, while his triumphant rival 
 plumes himself, and, with victorious crow, ruffles 
 his plumage, and displays its beauties, strutting 
 proudly, and suiting his actions to the dignity of 
 the moment. 
 
 A curious vanity and self-love are evinced by 
 some birds, at sight of their own reflected image. 
 A gentleman had in his possession two brown 
 cranes. After some years one of them died, and 
 the survivor became disconsolate. He was ap- 
 parently following his companion, when his owner 
 introduced a large looking-glass into the aviary. 
 The bird no sooner saw his reflected image than 
 he placed himself close to the mirror, plumed his 
 feathers, and showed every sign of happiness. 
 The scheme completely answered; the crane 
 recovered his health and spirits, passed almost all 
 his time before the looking-glass, and lived many 
 years afterwards. The goldfinch appears to be a 
 vain bird, for, if a looking-glass is placed before 
 it, the reflection of its own gay feathers seems 
 greatly to delight it. 
 
 The sagacity of brutes is one of their most
 
 24 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 remarkable characteristics, and it often appears, 
 
 in its manifestations, to pass the limit of mere 
 
 instinct. In birds, instances of it are 
 
 SAGACITY- 
 
 not so numerous or so well known, but 
 there are some species which evince no small 
 share of contrivance and skill in action. 
 
 It is well observed by Mr. Thompson, that all 
 these faculties and propensities we have noticed 
 in animals become usually more developed in a 
 state of confinement, and consequently of tuition, 
 than in their natural wild condition. Hence the 
 extraordinary sagacity observed in animals more 
 or less under the control and management of man. 
 
 Birds, those " free denizens of air," are, neces- 
 sarily, far less influenced by our actions, and 
 beyond the reach of our training; yet, accurate 
 observers have found them showing an instinc- 
 tive foresight, caution, and cleverness truly sur- 
 prising. 
 
 Many birds can by no means be induced to 
 touch anything which would be injurious to 
 them. For instance, if flies be given to young 
 ducks, they will greedily devour them ; but when 
 bees are placed before them they will look at 
 them, with their little heads on one side, but never 
 touch one. 
 
 Two remarkable instances of instinctive sagacity 
 in the crow family are mentioned by one of our
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 25 
 
 naturalists. \Vhen the cholera broke out with 
 frightful severity at St. Petersburgh, in July, 
 1848, the crows, which are extremely abundant 
 in that city and settle familiarly in the streets, 
 forsook it, returning as soon as the virulence of 
 the disease had ceased. 
 
 In the neighbourhood of Newcastle there was a 
 fine old ash tree which had for many years been 
 the haunt of a colony of rooks, whose nests 
 crowded the branches. In each succeeding year 
 they returned to carry on the business of nesting, 
 till suddenly their numbers diminished, and soon 
 but a few lingerers remained, seemingly loth to 
 quit the favourite spot, commencing their labours 
 for two or three seasons, but without completing 
 their task ; and, finally, these also transferred 
 themselves to a new locality. The cause of this 
 desertion was revealed shortly afterwards, when 
 the tree, which, unperceived by all, had decayed 
 at the root, fell beneath the violence of a severe 
 gale. 
 
 Closely resembling the common bullfinch is the 
 pine grosbeak, (or pine bullfinch as it is frequently 
 called) an occasional visitor in these islands, 
 which is very abundant in the north of Europe 
 and in America. A friend of M. Audubon 
 writing of this sweet songster says : " I received 
 a male in full plumage, but so emaciated that it
 
 26 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 seemed little else than a mass of feathers. By 
 cautious feeding however, he soon regained his 
 flesh and became so tame as to eat from my hand 
 without the least appearance of fear. To reconcile 
 him gradually to confinement he was permitted to 
 fly about my bedroom, and upon rising in the 
 morning, the first thing I did was to give him a 
 small quantity of seed. But three mornings in 
 succession I chanced to lie rather later than usual, 
 and each morning I was aroused by the bird 
 fluttering upon my shoulder and calling for his 
 usual allowance. The third morning I allowed 
 him to flutter about me some time before showing 
 any symptom of being awake. He no sooner per- 
 ceived that his object was effected than he retired 
 to the window and waited patiently till I was 
 dressed." Surely there is more than instinct in 
 such conduct. Have we not in such actions evi- 
 dence of memory, association, and inference ? 
 
 An instance of cautious sagacity in a peewit, is 
 mentioned by Brehm. He had placed some horse- 
 hair snares over its nest, and the bird having 
 alighted, at the distance of thirty paces, ran to it, 
 and seeing them, pushed them aside with her 
 bill. The next day he set them thickly round the 
 nest ; but the bird instead of running, as usual, to 
 it, alighted directly upon it. 
 
 Every one knows that rooks will fly at the ap-
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 27 
 
 proach of a man with a gun, while they follow the 
 plough so closely, as to be within reach of a long 
 stick; and they are undoubtedly aware of the 
 immunities brought by the sabbath day ; so much 
 so that it is a saying in some parts, " Bold as a 
 rook on Sunday." A gentleman in "Wiltshire, 
 who was a strict preserver of his game and fish, 
 had his ponds regularly visited by herons on a 
 Sunday. Not a heron was to be seen near them 
 on any other day. 
 
 Some birds in a state of confinement, make a 
 skilful application of their powers in the attempt 
 to liberate themselves, or to remove difficulties. 
 A tame raven, which was confined by a chain 
 of three feet long, fastened to a ring round its 
 neck, had recourse to this contrivance whenever 
 it flew or hopped about. It always gathered the 
 chain in its bill so as to prevent it from hurting 
 its neck. 
 
 These birds, and their congeners, are prover- 
 bially clever and sagacious in pilfering and con- 
 cealment, and their inquisitiveness renders them 
 ever on the alert to make some new discovery ; 
 they have also been known to show a remarkable 
 retentiveness of memory. Two magpies, kept in 
 a large kitchen garden, were in the habit of con- 
 cealing bits of meat and other stores. Some men 
 were one day set to dig up that part of the ground
 
 28 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 which had been the favourite hiding-place of 
 these birds. Scarcely had they commenced opera- 
 tions, when the magpies showed that they were 
 perfectly aware of what was going forward. They 
 hastened to the spot, and with their bills cleared 
 away the earth from their hidden treasures, which 
 they conveyed, one by one, to some distance. In 
 this way seven or eight bones and bits of bread 
 were disinterred, although some of them had been 
 buried three or four weeks ; thus indicating that 
 the birds perfectly recollected peculiar spots. 
 It is a necessary consequence of the social life 
 in animals that they must possess some 
 
 LAKGUAGB, 
 
 COMMCNI- means of communication with each other, 
 
 CAIIOJT. 
 
 without which the demand for mutual 
 aid would be impracticable. " The language of 
 animals is an intuitive expression of their inward 
 conceptions and wants by signs, looks, or voice." 
 Most animals use particular modifications of sound 
 to communicate their meaning to their young 
 and their companions, and this seems perfectly 
 successful. The various notes of call, of alarm, of 
 impatience, and of joy in the poultry yard are very 
 significant and expressive unmistakable utter- 
 ances of the feelings of anger, grief, fear, or 
 pleasure ; and a person familiar with the notes of 
 wild birds has no difficulty in distinguishing 
 between the notes of pleasure and alann.
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 29 
 
 A loud outcry was heard one day amongst a 
 parcel of sparrows, tomtits, and chaffinches. The 
 noise was not one of pleasure, nor did it resemble 
 their shrill screams when fighting. The bustle 
 occurred close to a window, where no hawk would 
 venture. Nor could a cat be seen anywhere in 
 the neighbourhood. Yet still the din went on, 
 and the bush in which the noisy assemblage had 
 taken refuge shook with the fluttering of wings 
 and clacking of tongues. At last, at the bottom 
 of the bush a little sharp snout was seen protrud- 
 ing, and a pair of inquisitive eyes peered out. It 
 was a weasel, which no sooner saw that it was 
 noticed than it took to its heels ; whereupon, in 
 an instant the outcry ceased, and the whole party 
 dispersed. 
 
 The loud cries of some birds, particularly of 
 many of the migratory water birds, which fly by 
 night, are evidently intended for the purpose of 
 keeping in company. In the silence of the night 
 a flight of wild geese may be heard incessantly 
 cackling high in the air, on their way to some 
 distant spot. The distance, too, at which the call 
 of some birds may be heard is very extraordinary. 
 How marvellous and beautiful is the instinct 
 which has been implanted in defenceless birds, to 
 make their migrations by night! It affords a 
 remarkable and delightful proof of the care and
 
 30 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 beneficence of God on behalf of these his crea- 
 tures. If such birds as the quail, the woodcock, 
 the snipe, the nightingale, and the swallow per- 
 formed those aerial voyages in the day-time, they 
 would be subject to the harassing attacks of birds 
 of prey, as well as of man, but shaded by the 
 friendly veil of night they pass on in security, 
 proclaiming to each other, by friendly calls, the 
 route to be kept. 
 
 But the mode in which birds convey to each 
 other, under certain circumstances, their ideas 
 and wishes, is often quite beyond our observation. 
 That they do carry on a mutual intercourse and 
 communication of ideas is indisputable. A gentle- 
 man who held a high official appointment in 
 Persia, related the following anecdote to Mr. 
 Jesse, which is remarkably in point : 
 
 Storks abound in Persia, and make their nests 
 on old towers and ruins. One season a pair of 
 these birds returned to their old haunt on the top 
 of a building opposite one of the windows of this 
 gentleman's residence, but they found it pre-oc- 
 cupied by a pair of pea-fowl. The storks vainly 
 endeavoured to dislodge the intruders ; they re- 
 solutely refused to give up possession. In this 
 dilemma the storks flew away, but returned in 
 two days, accompanied by a large number of 
 other storks, who assisted effectually in driving
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 31 
 
 away the pea-fowl. Having done this, they re- 
 mained quietly near the spot, to see that their 
 friends were securely reinstated, and having as- 
 certained this to their satisfaction, they left them, 
 and returned whither they had come. 
 
 Similar mano3uvres may be witnessed among 
 our own household birds, the martins. They 
 build, as all the world knows, under the eaves of 
 houses ; and, not unfrequently, when the nest is 
 completed, the sparrows will come and take for- 
 cible possession of it. The martins, unable to 
 dislodge the unwelcome intruders, convoke their 
 companions, some of whom keep watch over the 
 captive occupant of the nest, while others bring 
 clay, and completely closing up the entrance of 
 the nest, fly off, leaving the delinquent sparrow to 
 be suffocated or to perish of hunger. 
 
 Bishop Stanley has given, in his delightful 
 " Sketches of Birds," a remarkable anecdote illus- 
 trative of this strange and unaccountable faculty. 
 The incident is said to have occurred at Ennis, in 
 1828. An old goose, which had been for a fort- 
 night hatching in a farmer's kitchen, was suddenly 
 taken violently ill. She soon after left her nest 
 and went to an outhouse where there was a young 
 goose of the first year, which she brought with her 
 into the kitchen. The young one immediately 
 scrambled into the old one's nest, sat, in due time
 
 32 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 hatched, and afterwards brought up the brood. 
 The old goose, as soon as the young one had taken 
 her place, sat down beside the nest, and shortly 
 after died. As the young goose had never been 
 in the habit of entering the kitchen before, the 
 fact can only be accounted for by supposing that 
 the old one had some way of communicating her 
 thoughts and anxieties which the other was per- 
 fectly able to understand. 
 
 Another remarkable instance of a similar kind 
 we quote from the same author, who says it was 
 seen by a number of persons and communicated 
 by the best authority. A French surgeon, at 
 Smyrna, wishing to procure a stork, and finding 
 great difficulty in doing so on account of the extreme 
 veneration in which they are held by the Turks, 
 stole all the eggs out of a nest and replaced them 
 with those of a hen. In process of time, the young 
 chickens were hatched, to the utter amazement of 
 the storks. The male bird soon after disappeared, 
 and was not seen for two or three days, when he 
 returned accompanied by a host of his companions, 
 who all assembled in the place and formed a circle, 
 taking no notice of the numerous spectators whom 
 so unusual an occurrence had collected. The 
 female stork was brought forward and placed in 
 the midst of the circle, and, after some consulta- 
 tion, the whole flock fell upon her, and tore her to
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 33 
 
 pieces; which done, they immediately dispersed 
 and the nest was entirely abandoned. After 
 these instances, which might be multiplied almost 
 at pleasure, our readers will agree with us that 
 there is no need to inquire 
 
 " If birds confabulate or no." 
 
 Perhaps this Introductory Chapter may be most 
 suitably concluded by a few observations 
 on the social impulse in birds, which I will IMPIJXSK. 
 endeavour to illustrate by a few anecdotes. 
 
 The wisdom and beneficial effects of the law, 
 by which animals are impelled to form themselves 
 into families or larger societies, for mutual benefit 
 and protection, is very evident ; and nothing in 
 the wide field of natural history is more remark- 
 able and interesting than the economy of the gre- 
 garious animals and the association, in some cases, 
 of thousands of individuals in one republic, occu- 
 pying one habitation, and combining their labours 
 for the common good. These combinations arb 
 chiefly seen in the insect races ; but the social im- 
 pulse is shared in common by animals generally. 
 
 With the exception of birds of prey and a few 
 others, all the feathered tribes seem to have a 
 general tendency towards association into flocks 
 or family parties and pairs. The woodlark does 
 not unite in company, but it associates in its own 
 
 D
 
 34 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 little family groups. The linnet lives and delights 
 in company, frequenting open commons and gorsy 
 fields. Several pairs, -without the least rivalry 
 or contention, build their nests, and rear their 
 young, in the same neighbourhood. They form 
 large associations, feeding and moving in company, 
 as one united household. They will pass hours 
 together on the top branches of some sunny tree, 
 enjoying the warmth and chatting with each other 
 in low and gentle notes. 
 
 The jay and its family associate during all the 
 autumn and winter months, taking evident delight 
 in each other's company. They separate only to 
 become the founders of new establishments. 
 
 Starlings are extremely sociable in their disposi- 
 tion, and when they quit the nest keep together 
 in families for a short time and then join with 
 others, till they form those vast flocks seen in 
 meadows. No birds appear to have so much 
 conversation, if the term may be used, as star- 
 lings; especially when they visit their roosting 
 places in the evening. They seem, then, to be 
 congratulating each other with much satisfaction. 
 They are seldom seen alone; to feed, they will 
 associate with the rook, the pigeon, or the daw ; 
 but they chiefly roost with their own families. 
 Should any accident separate an individual from 
 its companions, it will sit disconsolate, piping and
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 35 
 
 plaining, till some of its associates join it. Even 
 in small parties they keep continually calling with 
 a fine clear tone, and inviting others to join them. 
 
 The gregarious propensity of magpies is very 
 observable in open countries. In the inclosed 
 lands of England they are more commonly seen in 
 pairs or families, like the jay and titmouse. A 
 naturalist, residing in Somersetshire, says, " In 
 the winter, magpies assemble to roost in large flocks 
 in a wood near by. Hundreds come there regu- 
 larly every evening, flying in from all directions. 
 They formerly frequented an orchard on the 
 opposite side of the valley to which the wood is 
 situated ; but, having been shot at, they deserted 
 it for the wood. The next evening not one mag- 
 pie came to the orchard, but all went simulta- 
 neously to the wood as if they had previously 
 agreed among themselves to do so. In moonlight 
 nights they might be seen clustering together on 
 the trees." 
 
 Besides the assemblages that take place at 
 particular seasons in different species, as the gold- 
 finches, larks, starlings, etc., others continue their 
 association without interruption, as the various 
 species of wild fowl. These can hardly be said to 
 separate for the purpose of nidification, since they 
 frequent the same district of marsh or swamp, for 
 that purpose, in the northern regions in immense
 
 36 BRITISH LAJS'D BIRDS. 
 
 flocks, again taking flight together towards the 
 south as the cold season approaches. The peewits 
 and plovers also constantly remain in flocks or 
 families.* 
 
 Few birds are more gregariotis than the rooks, 
 which we see at nightfall, 
 
 " Retiring from the downs, where all day long 
 They pick their scanty fere ; a black'ning train 
 Of loitering rooks thick urge their weary flight, 
 And seek the shelter of the grove." 
 
 Their habits, in this respect, are so well known as 
 to need no comment. 
 
 Fieldfares, again, which arrive in this country 
 in great flocks from the northern parts of the 
 continent in the beginning of the autumn, return, 
 in the same manner, to their native forests, where 
 they stud the huge fir-trees with their nests. It 
 would appear that with them, as with the rooks, 
 the sense of security occasions these associations, 
 as they have evident marks of keeping watch to 
 announce the approach of danger, and there are 
 few birds more difficult to get near to. 
 
 The system of setting a watch to give the signal 
 of danger is adopted generally by all the grega- 
 rious races of birds. These sentinels station 
 themselves at some little distance from the main 
 
 * Thompson.
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 37 
 
 body, usually on an elevated point, and give the 
 alarm by uttering a peculiar cry. Alluding to 
 this habit in wild geese, the poet Schiller says ; 
 
 " When they go forth to graze, with jealous care 
 They place a watch, which, with keen ear intent 
 On coming danger, sounds its shrill note, 
 And warns the ready flock." 
 
 It is well known how difficult it is to get 
 within gunshot of a large flock of birds which 
 appear so busily employed in feeding that it might 
 be supposed they could see nothing else. And 
 doubtless they often do see nothing beyond the 
 food of which they are so diligently in search. 
 But in some neighbouring tree a keen look out is 
 kept by one of the party, and the moment his 
 alarum is heard, away goes the whole troop be- 
 yond the reach of the disappointed fowler who 
 fancied himself secure, as he lurked in ambush 
 behind some tree or hedgerow near. 
 
 This spirit of sociability in birds is not confined 
 strictly to the species, but extends to others of 
 their kind, and even to incongruous animals. 
 Swallows, sparrows, rooks, and other gregarious 
 birds will join together and make common cause 
 in defending their young from predatory birds or 
 animals. 
 
 An "out-door naturalist" says, "I have seen a 
 curious instance of birds of very different habits
 
 38 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and nature, such as a sparrowhawk, jackdaw, 
 green woodpecker, nuthatch, and wren, all build- 
 ing and having either eggs or young ones, at the 
 same time, either on or in the same tree. This 
 happened in an old oak tree, near a place at which 
 I was residing, the heart of which is completely 
 decayed. On the topmost branches a pair of 
 sparrowhawks had made them a nest, which, at 
 the time I examined it, contained four eggs. In 
 a hollow of the tree near the top was a jackdaw's 
 nest with five young ones. A little lower a wood- 
 pecker was hatching' five eggs ; still lower was a 
 nuthatch's nest containing seven young birds, and 
 near the foot of the tree, in one of the crevices of 
 the bark, which was overgrown with ivy, a pair 
 of wrens had made their domicile, in which were 
 several eggs. These birds seemed to live in 
 perfect harmony, as I watched them frequently." 
 
 Mr. Jesse relates the following anecdote of the 
 affection subsisting between two birds. A gentle- 
 man in Scotland had a cock pheasant sent him, 
 which he confined in a pen with a solitary chicken. 
 These birds formed a great affection for each other, 
 which they showed in various ways. After a 
 time the pheasant died, and was immediately 
 stuffed, and the chicken was turned loose. It 
 appeared miserable, however, after the death of 
 its companion, and the stuffed bird having been
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 39 
 
 shown to it, it drooped its wings, after having 
 attempted to get at it, kept its eyes fixed upon it, 
 and in this attitude died. 
 
 Not unfrequently an attachment springs up be- 
 tween birds in a domesticated state and animals 
 with which they are associated. A remarkable 
 instance is related of a goose, which attached her- 
 self so much to a house-dog by whom her life had 
 been accidentally saved, that she constantly kept 
 company with him, forsaking her natural allies 
 and even placing her eggs in his kennel; and. 
 when he fell ill, refusing to leave him, even to 
 procure food. 
 
 A pleasing anecdote is related by Mr. Jesse, 
 about a cat and a jay. The bird had been intro- 
 duced into one of the wards of a hospital, for the 
 purpose of amusing the patients. One day a cat 
 chanced to go into the ward with a mouse in her 
 mouth. One of the attendants took the mouse 
 from the cat and gave it to the jay, who pecked 
 the fur from it, and then ate it. The next day, to 
 the surprise of every one, pussy brought another 
 mouse into the ward, went up to the jay's cage, 
 and gave it him, and so she continued daily to do 
 for many weeks. At length the poor captive bird 
 died, but, for three days after, the cat came to the 
 cage with a mouse in her mouth. 
 
 The social nature in birds is undoubtedly one
 
 4:0 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 of the most pleasing and attractive traits in their 
 characters, and it is that which chiefly 
 
 IN MAN. attaches them to man, since, when tamed, 
 they distinguish their masters and 
 benefactors with endearing marks of affection and 
 gratitude. Numerous, indeed almost innumerable, 
 instances of this kind are seen in birds of various 
 species, as in parrots, geese, bullfinches, the star- 
 ling and rook tribes, and others. Nor is this feel- 
 ing shown only by birds in a state of confinement 
 or domestication. In their natural condition 
 they give abundant proofs of their confidence in 
 man, and their sensitiveness to his kindness. 
 
 I remember to have recently seen an account 
 of a robin, whose nest, containing young ones, 
 was attacked by a snake. The loud cries of the 
 bird attracted the attention of a man who was 
 working near the spot, when he went immediately 
 to its assistance, and killed the snake. When its 
 enemy was dead, the robin showed its gratitude 
 to the preserver of its young in every way in its 
 power, at the same time flying now and then, in a 
 rage, to peck at the dead snake. 
 
 The celebrated French naturalist, M. Sonnini, 
 has recorded the following pleasing incident 
 which occurred during his passage from Malta to 
 Egypt: 
 
 Two little birds, one a grey wagtail, the other
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 41 
 
 the garden warbler, perched upon the yards of the 
 frigate, and, being quite exhausted by the length 
 of their flight, suffered themselves to be taken by 
 the hand. At his request they were given to 
 him, and he carried them to the great cabin, 
 where he endeavoured to cheer the poor little 
 wayworn voyagers by caresses and feeding. Find- 
 ing them, however, too much alarmed to eat or 
 repose, he let them loose. 
 
 " Whether they foresaw the storm which we 
 encountered the following day," says he, "or 
 whether, as no land was in sight, they were afraid 
 to trust themselves to the open sea, I know not ; 
 but, after a few moments of uncertain flight, they 
 returned by the same window whence I had let 
 them fly. From that time they never quitted the 
 cabin ; and if, when frightened by any noise, they 
 went out of one of the stern windows, or by a 
 port, they were sure to come back by another. 
 Although of different species, they lived in the 
 greatest harmony ; they played upon those terri- 
 ble machines which deal death and destruction, 
 and it was indeed upon a cannon that was placed 
 their little provision of fresh water and crumbs of 
 bread. It served them also as a roosting-place. 
 Their confidence was unbounded ; they fluttered 
 over a table at which twenty persons somewhat 
 noisy were daily seated ; and with their chirping,
 
 42 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and quick and graceful motion enlivened our 
 monotonous abode. 
 
 " On our approach to the island of Candia our 
 pretty and interesting navigators hastened to fly 
 away, and took leave of us by uttering a few 
 shrill notes, the sweet accents of their joy, and 
 perhaps of their gratitude." 
 
 Under the influence of this instinctive confi- 
 dence in the favour and protection of man, cer- 
 tain birds attach themselves to our neighbourhood, 
 and seek the shelter of our habitations, beneath 
 which to rear their young. This feeling seems to 
 give them a sort of claim upon our sympathy and 
 kindly usage, and I cannot help agreeing with 
 Mr. Jesse, that the attachment with which the 
 robin is regarded by mankind, wherever he is 
 known, is to be traced principally to this cause. 
 The little redbreast loves to be near us, and to 
 live under our shadow. He comes to us in his 
 distresses not only for food and shelter, but as if 
 he thought our companionship was more pleasant 
 and comfortable to him than that of his fellows ; 
 and he is constantly proving it to be so by the 
 cheery song with which he greets us in the most 
 cheerless day, even in the depth of winter. We 
 do not care to tame a robin, we rest satisfied with 
 his natural philanthropy; and though in many 
 respects he may be voted inferior to most of his
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 43 
 
 feathered companions, still we love him best, sim- 
 ply because he is himself a lover of man. So thinks 
 Mr. Jesse, and he has drawn with his lively pencil 
 a most amusing picture of the pugnacious little 
 fellow, whom he boldly pronounces the most 
 unamiable among all known birds. 
 
 " I once saw," says he, " in a dining-room, by the 
 side of an aviary, a little cage, with something in 
 it, sitting on a perch, and therefore, as I supposed, 
 a bird. But, although I went very near the cage, 
 I declare that I could make nothing of it. I could 
 see no head nor any eyes, which, so far, is perhaps 
 the less to be wondered at because it was in Lon- 
 don, and a London day in winter ; but I could 
 see no wings, nor feet, nor tail, nor even any 
 feathers. I am satisfied that there was not one 
 feather, nor the visible rudiments of one feather 
 on its whole body, which was a round and raggea 
 ball of dirty down, like that of a duckling, only 
 not of the same colour. Yet it was, or was all that 
 remained of, a robin, who had been taken out of 
 the aviaiy, in articulo, at the last gasp, to save 
 his life, or what was left of it, because he did 
 nothing all day long but fight indiscriminately 
 with all the other birds, goldfinches, canaries, 
 chaffinches, a tomtit, and several others. He 
 took them as they came, and never gave them any 
 peace, though a tomtit is a match, for any bird of
 
 44 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 its own size, and I believe, indeed, that it was 
 principally through him, though purely in his 
 own defence, that the robin had been reduced to 
 the deplorable condition in which I saw him. If, 
 therefore, we take from the prior claims of a robin, 
 beauty, tameness, song, sagacity, and natural 
 amiability, we shall find we cannot err in attri- 
 buting our love for him solely to his having in 
 the first instance loved us." 
 
 But I am exceeding due limits, and though, in 
 order to attain anything like a perfect knowledge 
 of this interesting subject, it would require a 
 volume instead of a few pages, I must be content 
 to leave it here, only observing, that the greater 
 attention we pay to the various powers and facul- 
 ties of animals, the more we shall be convinced 
 that there is much yet to be learned as to the 
 extent of those faculties. That there is a high 
 degree of intelligence to be observed in them, and 
 which is exhibited in very remarkable ways, is 
 indisputable. Can we doubt, after watching them 
 attentively, that they give proofs of being endowed 
 with the feelings of memory, joy, gratitude, love, 
 sympathy, jealousy, and many other impulses 
 which might be enumerated ? Surely, the study 
 of nature is well calculated to impress us with 
 kindly feelings. Creatures susceptible of impres- 
 sions produced by our actions are objects of bene-
 
 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 45 
 
 volence, and claim to be regarded and treated as 
 such. And the same study reveals the goodness 
 of God, not only to us, but also to all his works. 
 It is He who gives understanding and skill to the 
 fowls of the air, and who cares for them, so that 
 not one falls to the ground without him. 
 
 If these few introductory pages should give an 
 impulse to any young readers to pursue the study 
 to which I invite them, their object is attained.
 
 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 ORDER I. EAPTOEES. 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS, OB BIRDS OP PREY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 VuLxrEES, FALCONS, and OWLS Solitary Vulture seen in 
 England Raptorial Birds EAGLES Two British species, 
 the Golden, and the White-tailed or Sea Eagle. Account 
 of the Golden Eagle and his mate in their native haunts 
 Tame Golden Eagles The Sea Eagle, the Common 
 British Eagle Account of this bird in his fishing haunts 
 The Patriarch Job's poetical description of the king of 
 Birds. 
 
 THE formidable tribe of RAPACIOUS birds, or birds 
 of prey, is the first in order among the feathered 
 race. 
 
 VULTURES, FALCONS, and OWLS, are included in it ; 
 but the first of these can scarcely be said to belong 
 to our country, as only one is certainly known to 
 have been seen and killed in England. This 
 solitary case occurred in 1825, or 1826, in Somer- 
 setshire. A strange unknown bird, was, one day 
 in the month of June, seen walking along a road 
 near the sea-shore ; evidently so gorged with food,
 
 48 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 that it ccmld not fly without difficulty. On being 
 pursued, it took to flight ; but soon alighted again 
 on the beach, and was shot. It was one of the 
 smallest of the vulture kind, measuring only two 
 feet, three inches, from the tip of the beak to the 
 end of the tail ; whereas, the great condor of 
 South America sometimes measures twelve feet, 
 from tip to tip, of its outspread wings. 
 
 The FALCON tribe, is divided into numerous 
 families. Eagles, falcons, hawks, kites, buzzards, 
 and harriers ; all of which have these distinguish- 
 ing characters in common, by which they are 
 readily known. The bill is strong, sharp, and 
 much hooked ; and is furnished with a naked skin 
 at the base, in which the nostrils are placed. The 
 head and neck are well clothed with feathers, 
 while those of the vulture are more or less naked. 
 The legs and feet are scaly, and the claws large 
 and strong, hooked, and very sharp. Unlike 
 most other kinds, the female of birds of prey is 
 larger and stronger than the male. 
 
 It has been happily remarked that the rapacious 
 birds, of which the EAGLE is the chief, bear a strong 
 typical resemblance to the carnivorous animals. 
 The dispositions of both are fierce and intractable, 
 their framed are strong and sinewy, well adapted 
 for swift pursuit and powerful action. The sight
 
 KAPACIOUS BIRDS. 49 
 
 in both is remarkably acute, and the strong, 
 curved and toothed beak of the birds, like the 
 powerful teeth of the feline tribe, is admirably 
 adapted for tearing ; and their claws, large, curved 
 and sharp, are equally fitted for holding and 
 lacerating their prey. 
 
 The general purpose of both classes is to act as 
 a salutary check upon over production ; and birds 
 of prey, like wolves and hyenas, perform the part 
 of scavengers in removing dead animal matter, 
 which would be, without their assistance, exceed- 
 ingly hurtful to the living. 
 
 Among birds the predatory classes are endowed 
 with a keener sense of smell than the graminivor- 
 ous tribes ; yet it seems to have been satisfactorily 
 proved that they are, to a great extent, dependent 
 on the sight for the discovery of their prey. 
 Audubon stuffed a deer's skin with hay, and 
 placed it in an open field, in the attitude of a dead 
 animal. A vulture soon made its appearance, 
 and perching on the stuffed skin, began to tear it 
 open with all its force, but finding that it only 
 drew forth grass, after many efforts, it abandoned 
 its attempts with evident reluctance. Young 
 vultures in confinement give no signs of perceiving 
 the presence of their food, however near it may 
 be placed to them, unless they see it ; and thus, 
 too, herons and other wading birds are guided by 
 
 E
 
 50 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 the sight to the selection of the best supplied 
 fishing places.* 
 
 One of the most surprising facts connected with 
 birds of prey is that wonderful acuteness of vision 
 which enables the eagle, for example, when soar- 
 ing aloft amid the clouds, to discern so small a 
 bird as a partridge upon the ground. When 
 looking for its prey the eagle sails in large circles, 
 with its tail spread out, and its wings scarcely 
 moving. Thus it soars aloft in its course, its 
 gyrations becoming less and less perceptible until 
 it dwindles to a mere speck, and is at length lost 
 to view, when it suddenly reappears, rushing down 
 like lightning, and carries off in its talons some 
 unhappy prey. 
 
 The raptorial birds are endowed with a very 
 beautiful modification of the eye in relation to 
 this power of vision. The globe is surrounded 
 with a circle of bony plates, slightly moving on 
 each other, whereby its form is maintained, and 
 the muscles at the back of the eye are so arranged, 
 that, by their pressure, the front of the organ can 
 be rendered very prominent, or they can be quite 
 relaxed, and the front of the eye rendered nearly 
 flat. The first condition fits it for discerning near 
 objects; the second endows it with telescopic 
 
 * Thompson.
 
 RAPACIOUS BIEDS. 51 
 
 sight, and is that which exists when the bird is 
 hovering on high.* 
 
 The eyes of birds which fly abroad and seek 
 their prey by night, are so incapable of bearing the 
 light that they have only the full power of sight at 
 twilight, and the pupil is then so distended that it 
 admits an unusual proportion of the rays of light ; 
 a construction precisely similar to that which is 
 found among animals of the feline species. In 
 these, as well as among the other carnivora, the 
 pupil appears like a perpendicular line, by which 
 means the sight is more concentrated, and is 
 remarkably keen in moments of excitement, and 
 when the animal collects itself for the fatal spring 
 upon its prey. 
 
 The feline races, having caught their prey, 
 teach their young to destroy it, to tear it, and to 
 revel in its blood ; and their type, the eagle, goes 
 one step farther, in teaching the power of flight. 
 Sir H. Davy had an opportunity of watching the 
 proceedings of eagles in this respect. He says, 
 " I once saw a very interesting sight above one of 
 the crags of Ben Nevis, as I was going, on the 20th 
 of August, in the pursuit of black game. Two 
 parent eagles were teaching their offspring, two 
 young birds, the manoeuvres of flight. They 
 
 * See " Zoological Notes and Anecdotes," p. 277. 
 
 E 2
 
 52 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 began by rising from the top of a mountain, in 
 the eye of the sun : it was about mid-day, and 
 bright for this climate. They at first made small 
 circles, and the young birds imitated them ; they 
 paused on their wings, waiting till they had made 
 their first flight, and then took a second and 
 larger gyration, always rising towards the sun, 
 and enlarging the circle of flight, so as to make a 
 gradually extending spiral. The young ones still 
 followed slowly, apparently flying better as they 
 mounted ; and they continued this sublime kind of 
 exercise, always rising, till they became mere 
 points in the air, and the young ones were lost, 
 and afterwards their parents, to our aching sight." 
 Colonel Maxwell witnessed a similar scene on 
 the summit of Slieve More, in Ireland. On a huge 
 and inaccessible crag, two sea eagles had formed 
 an eyrie, where, for many years, they annually 
 produced their offspring, to the sad annoyance of 
 the neighbouring villagers. One morning the 
 pair was observed descending from their rocky 
 habitation, accompanied by two eaglets, evidently 
 to teach their young to stoop and lift their prey. 
 The old birds tore up turfs from the mountain 
 side, rose high in the air and dropped them. The 
 eaglets in turn, stooped, and took them up again. 
 This was frequently repeated, and the course of 
 instruction having lasted half-an-hour, the young
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 53 
 
 mounted to their nest, while the parents sailed off 
 upon the rising breeze to procure them a meal. 
 
 To black fowls the eagles appear particularly 
 attached; and the villagers avoid as much as 
 possible, rearing any of that colour. These birds 
 are also extremely destructive to fish, and parti- 
 cularly so to salmon, as they are constantly seen 
 watching the fords in the spawning season, and 
 seizing and carrying off the fish. In the pursuit 
 of hares they show a degree of intelligence that 
 appears extraordinary, coursing them with great 
 judgment and certain success ; one bird is the 
 active follower, while the other remains in reserve, 
 at the distance of forty or fifty yards. If the hare 
 by a sudden turn, free himself from his most 
 pressing enemy, the second bird instantly takes 
 up the chase, and thus prevents the victim frcm 
 having a moment's respite. 
 
 "When engaged in fishing they pursue a similar 
 mode. Choosing a ford upon some rivulet, and 
 posted on either side, they wait patiently for the 
 salmon to pass over, and their watch is rarely 
 fruitless. 
 
 Mr. White, of Selborne, thus admirably pictures 
 the various modes of flight in birds of prey. 
 " Kites and buzzards sail rotind in circles, with 
 wings expanded and motionless ; and it is from 
 their gliding manner that the former are still
 
 54 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 called in the north of England, gleads, from the 
 Saxon verb glidan, to glide. The kestrel, or 
 windhover, has a peculiar mode of hanging in the 
 air in one place, his wings all the while being 
 briskly agitated. Hen-harriers fly low over heaths 
 or fields of corn, and beat the ground regularly, 
 like a pointer, or setting-dog. Owls move in a 
 buoyant manner, as if lighter than the air ; they 
 seem to want ballast." 
 
 The author adds, " there is a peculiarity belong- 
 ing to ravens that must draw the attention even 
 of the most incurious ; (we have not many oppor- 
 tunities now-a-days of observing them;) they 
 spend all their leisure-time in striking and cuffing 
 each other on the wing, in a kind of playful 
 skirmish ; and when they move from one place to 
 another, frequently turn on their backs with a 
 loud crack, and seem to be falling to the ground. 
 When this odd gesture betides them, they are 
 scratching themselves with one foot, and thus lose 
 the centre of gravity." 
 
 The eagle's cry is sharp and loud, and so power- 
 ful, that it can be heard from afar. Destined for 
 war and plunder, it is fierce, bold, and indomit- 
 able. It is also believed to be long-lived. One 
 that died at Vienna, was reported to have lived in 
 confinement a hundred and four years. 
 
 The attachment of the eagle to his mate is
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 55 
 
 strong, and endures for a lengthened period ; 
 probably, through life. The pair are always seen 
 in company, or but at a short distance from each 
 other ; and they often unite their exertions in the 
 pursuit of prey. 
 
 We have two British species,* belonging to the 
 first, or aquiline branch of the Falcons. That 
 noble bird, the GOLDEN EAGLE, one of the most power- 
 ful and the model of his race, is one of these. 
 But it is very rare, and dwells only in the wild 
 parts of our land. It is chiefly confined to Scotland, 
 and its western and northern islands ; and speci- 
 mens of it have been found in Ireland. Even in 
 the Highlands it is by no means common, and it 
 is constantly becoming more scarce. 
 
 Its eyrie, or nest, is confined to the most wild 
 and inaccessible places of the Grampians. This 
 cradle for the young broods is placed on some 
 ledge or shelf of a lofty rock, and requires a space 
 of several feet square of surface, for the collection 
 of strong sticks and roots of trees and heather, of 
 which it is composed. 
 
 The female bird, which is (as before said) con- 
 siderably larger than the male, lays two, sometimes 
 three eggs white, with pale brown, or purple 
 spots. The young eaglets are watched, defended 
 
 * A third the Spotted Eagle has been once killed in 
 Ireland.
 
 56 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and provided plentifully with food, by the parent 
 birds. The stores accumulated are almost in- 
 credible. Hares, lambs, the young of the deer 
 and roebuck, grouse, and various game-birds, con- 
 tribute to the feast. 
 
 The following striking lines give a vivid picture 
 of the bird : 
 
 " The tawny eagle seats his callow brood 
 High 011 the cliffs, and feasts his young with blood. 
 On Snowdon's rocks, or Orkney's wide domain, 
 Whose beetling cliffs o'erhang the western main, 
 The royal bird his lonely kingdom forms 
 Amidst the gathering clouds and sullen storms. 
 Through the wide waste of air he darts his sight 
 And holds his sounding pinions poised for flight ; 
 With glaring eye premeditates the war, 
 And marks his destined victim from afar ; 
 Descending in a whirlwind to the ground 
 His pinions like the rush of water sound ; 
 The fairest of the fold he bears away, 
 And to his nest compels the struggling prey." 
 
 The eagle usually strikes his prey upon the 
 ground, and the blow is almost instantly fatal to 
 any animal on which he pounces. He shoots 
 down from an immense elevation, with lightning- 
 like velocity, and strikes his claw into the body 
 of the animal, up to the toe, so as to inflict a 
 deadly stroke. The swoop is slanting, and the 
 main blow is given with the eagle's hind toe. 
 
 The rapidity with which a strong bird of prey 
 flies in pursuit of his quarry, is inconceivably
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 57 
 
 great ; the flight of a hawk is calculated at a hun- 
 dred and fifty miles an hour ; and the anecdote of 
 the falcon belonging to Henry iv. of France, which 
 flew in one day from Fontainebleau to Malta, a 
 distance of 1350 miles, is well authenticated. 
 
 The sight of the bird must be as steady as 
 acute; for he seldom misses his mark when on 
 the ground; although he often fails when he 
 attempts birds on the wing, being unable to 
 follow the short and rapid turnings of their flight. 
 
 The strength of endurance in the eagle is sur- 
 prisingly great, enabling the bird to sustain exist- 
 ence under circumstances that would destroy 
 almost every other animal. In winter, when the 
 ground is covered with snow, he remains for days 
 without food, and bears the severity of the 
 cold and the wintry winds, clinging to the 
 pinnacle of the rock, as though part of the rock 
 itself : and braving the tempests that scatter ruin 
 around. 
 
 An admirable picture of this bird is that drawn 
 by the late Bishop Stanley. He has thus de- 
 scribed what he was himself fortunate enough to 
 see. " While climbing some high precipices in 
 the volcanic district of Auvergne, in France, near 
 a great waterfall, which dashed downwards with 
 a thundering noise ; in the midst of the loud roar 
 of waters, a short shrill cry met our ears, coming,
 
 58 BRITISH LAXD BIRDS. 
 
 as it were, from the clouds. On looking in the 
 direction from which it came, we soon perceived 
 a black speck, moving steadily on towards us. It 
 was a golden eagle, evidently coming from the 
 plain countries below; as he drew nearer we 
 could see that his wings scarcely ever moved ; he 
 seemed to float or sail in mid-air, rather than fly ; 
 though now and then, indeed, they slowly flapped, 
 as if to steady him. As he was approaching in a 
 direct line, we hid ourselves behind a rock, and 
 watched his motions through a telescope. AVhen 
 first seen he could not have been at a less distance 
 than a mile ; but, in less than a minute, he was 
 within gunshot, and, after looking round once or 
 twice, he darted down his legs, slightly quivered, 
 and alighted on a rock within a few yards. For a 
 moment he gazed about with his sharp, bright 
 eyes, as if to assure himself that all was safe ; he 
 then, for a few moments more, nestled his head 
 beneath one of his expanded wings, and appeared 
 to plume himself. Having done this, he stretched 
 out his neck, and looked keenly and wistfully 
 towards the quarter of the heavens from whence he 
 came, and tittered a few rapid screams; then, 
 stamping with his feet, we saw him protrude his 
 long, hooked talons, at the same time snapping 
 his hooked beak, with a sharp jerking noise, like 
 the crack of a whip. There he remained for
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 59 
 
 about ten minutes, manifesting great restlessness, 
 not a single instant quiet; when suddenly he 
 seemed to see or hear something and, immediately 
 rising from the rock on which he stood, launched 
 himself into the air, and floated away, as before, 
 uttering the same shrill cry. Looking round, we 
 beheld the cause of his emotion ; he had seen his 
 mate approaching. He rose to meet her; and, 
 after soaring in a circle a few times, they went 
 away, and were soon invisible to the naked eye." 
 
 Perhaps some readers may ask, " Why is this 
 eagle called ' golden ?' " This is a very natural 
 question, looking at one in confinement, or at a 
 stuffed specimen. But when we read the follow- 
 ing description of the bird, in full plumage, free, 
 and joyous, in its native haunts, we can perceive 
 how it came to be thus called. " It is very difli- 
 cult," says Mr. Mudie, " to obtain even a toler- 
 able portrait of one. For, in order to get the 
 eagle in perfection in an aviary, we should 
 require to bring the mountain crag and glen along 
 with it. The bird lives, indeed, but its plumage 
 is dull and its spirit still more so. The rich 
 browns, with their peculiar metallic lustre, and 
 the pointed feathers on the neck, shaded off till 
 they arrive at a rich orange at the points, and 
 stand up when the bird is excited, as if they were 
 so many scales margined with gold, are not to be
 
 60 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 obtained, unless where the bird has the free and 
 unrestrained range of all its powers." 
 
 Several instances have been recorded of children 
 being seized and carried off by eagles to their 
 young ; and a few such cases seem well authenti- 
 cated as having happened in our own country. 
 Ray relates, that in one of the Orkneys, a child of 
 a year old was seized in the talons of an eagle, 
 and carried about four miles, to its nest. The 
 mother, knowing of the place, pursued the bird, 
 found, her child there, and took it away, un- 
 hurt ! In the ' British Zoology' this curious state- 
 ment is given : "It is very unsafe to leave infants 
 in places where eagles frequent, there having been, 
 in Scotland, instances of two being carried off by 
 them. Happily the theft was discovered in time, 
 and the children restored unhurt to their affrighted 
 parents. In order to extirpate these birds, there 
 is a law in the Orkney Isles, -which entitles any 
 person who kills an eagle, to a hen, out of every 
 house in the parish in which it was killed." This 
 was written in 1775; no wonder eagles have 
 become so scarce now-a-days. 
 
 The eagle has been called " indomitable," but, 
 in some rare instances, even he, the proud wild 
 king of birds, has become docile ; and, while 
 writing this, we cannot help remembering the 
 words of the apostle James: "Every kind of
 
 KAPACIOUS BIRDS. 61 
 
 beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things 
 in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of man- 
 kind." A case in point is thus given ;* 
 
 " Eichard Langtrey, Esq., has at present a bird 
 of this species (the golden), which is exceedingly 
 docile and tractable. It was taken last summer 
 from a nest in Inverness-shire. The bird became 
 at once attached to its owner, who, after having 
 it about a month, ventured to give it liberty, a 
 privilege which was not abused, as it came to a 
 lure whenever called. It not only permits itself 
 to be handled in any way, but seems to derive 
 pleasure from the application of the hand to the 
 legs and plumage. When this bird is at large, my 
 friend has only to hold out his arm to it, which, 
 as soon as seen, even from a distance, it flies to, and 
 perches on. It is more partial to alighting on trees 
 than the sea eagles (which are also kept) ; and, 
 stationed on their tops, keeps its master in view, 
 following him about the grounds, flying from one 
 plantation to another, in the direction he walks, 
 and indolently remaining, as long as possible, where 
 it perches, so long as it keeps him in view." 
 
 Another instance is known of an eagle captured 
 
 in Ireland, after it had attained maturity, which 
 
 speedily became domesticated and firmly attached 
 
 to the place where it was fed, to which it always 
 
 * In the Mag. of Zoology and Botany, vol. ii., p. 46.
 
 62 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 returned, though perfectly at liberty. Its wings 
 had, indeed, been cut when first brought thither, 
 but they were allowed to grow again ; and this 
 magnificent bird, on recovering the use of them, 
 would repeatedly soar away and absent itself for 
 a fortnight or three weeks. It became very much 
 attached to those who were in the habit of feeding 
 or caressing it. Its food was chiefly crows, which 
 were shot for it ; sometimes it attempted to pro- 
 cure them for itself, but never successfully, as 
 their agility in turning shortly and rapidly, 
 enabled them to elude its superior strength of 
 wing ; latterly, therefore, it contented itself with 
 eyeing them wistfully, as they flew or perched 
 securely over its head. It was never suspected of 
 committing any havoc among the folds in the ad- 
 joining field ; but when, from some accident, its 
 regular food had not been supplied, it would seize 
 on and kill young pigs. Children, who constantly 
 met it as it walked about in the garden, were 
 never molested. At length, after having lived 
 nearly twelve years in this way, this interesting 
 bird was killed by a ferocious mastiff. No one 
 saw the battle, but it must have been fierce and 
 long-contested, for the dog, though victorious, 
 was so much injured that it died almost imme- 
 diately afterwards. 
 
 The SEA EAGLE, or, as it is sometimes called, the
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 63 
 
 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, which is also a native of Great 
 Britain, is much, more common than the golden, 
 and Mr. Yarrell says, "... may be seen fre- 
 quently on some part of the coast, inhabiting the 
 high rocks and cliffs that overlook the sea, from 
 whence it keeps a look-out ; and, when hungry, is 
 equally ready to seize either fowl or fish, and has 
 been seen to attack and feed on seals. It also 
 shows a great partiality for fawns and venison, 
 and is sometimes killed in deer-parks and forests." 
 
 This eagle builds its nests on high rocks, and 
 lays two eggs. It breeds in the Shetland Isles 
 and also in Ireland and some other localities, and 
 is much more numerous in winter than in sum- 
 mer ; hence it seems probable that this species is 
 migratory. 
 
 A pair of Skua gulls were once seen to chase, and 
 completely beat off a large sea eagle. They struck 
 at him several times, and at each stroke he screamed 
 loudly, but never offered to return the insult. 
 
 This species is probably the only eagle now to 
 be met with in England, in a natural state. It is 
 the one most generally seen, and is " the eagle" 
 of common conversation all over Britain ; hence 
 many of the anecdotes usually told of the golden 
 eagle really belong to this kind. 
 
 According to Mr. Mudie, the most favourite 
 resort of this bird is the western part of Eoss,
 
 64 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 that tract of country being well adapted to its 
 habits. The aspect of the land is desolate and 
 wild ; dreary, black morasses abound, precipitous 
 rocks, with peaks rising high aloft ; a shore full of 
 little bays and inlets ; lakes, studded with islets ; 
 a temperature as variable as the weather, which 
 is so rainy that the people are said to be aquatic, and 
 to catch cold whenever they come so far eastward as 
 to get dry ; and a soil continually torn and ploughed 
 up by rains and floods. Such is the country. 
 The results are a richness of vegetation and a 
 superabundance of animal life that must be seen 
 to be realized. Here the waters teem with fish, 
 and the land with all sorts of living creatures, to 
 which so moist a climate is suited. Salmon, trout, 
 herring, and cod abound ; and here the sea eagle 
 finds the richest harvest. 
 
 This account of the king of birds cannot, per- 
 haps, be closed more appropriately than with that 
 life-like picture of the bird, which was given thou- 
 sands of years ago to the patriarch Job : 
 
 " Doth the eagle mount up at thy command. 
 And make her nest on high ? 
 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, 
 Upon the crag of the rock and the strong place. 
 From thence she seeketh her prey, 
 And her eyes behold afar off. 
 Her young ones, also, suck up blood, 
 And where the slain are, there is shn "
 
 1. PBRBORINB FALCOX. 2. SPARROW-HAWK. 3. KITE. I. BUZZARD.
 
 67 
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS, OR BIRDS OF PREY. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The OSPREY, or Fishing-Hawk The FAI.CONS. Seven 
 British species of Falcons The Gyr Falcon The Pere- 
 grine Falcon trained for hawking Some account of 
 British Falconry The Hobby, and the Merlin Falcons 
 The Kestrel, or Windhover Description of this bird, and 
 anecdote of a Cat and a Kestrel The TBIBE OF HAWKS 
 Two British species of Hawks The Goshawk The 
 Sparrow-Hawk Common in England Two anecdotes of 
 this bird, showing its tameness and love of sweet sounds 
 The Kite A description of this bud The Buzzard The 
 HABRIEBS Three British species of these birds The 
 Marsh Harrier The Hen Harrier Montagu's Harrier. 
 
 THE OSPREY, or fishing hawk, partakes of the cha- 
 racters both of the eagle and the falcon, and forms 
 a sort of link between the eagle and the kite.* 
 It lives almost exclusively on fish, which it seizes 
 with its claws, plunging into the water, and bear- 
 ing off" its prey. The whole structure of this bird 
 is most beautifully and admirably adapted to its 
 habits. The outer toe is flexible, and can be 
 turned either way so as to enable it to clutch what 
 it seizes firmly ; the claws are strong, curved, and 
 sharp, and it has a peculiar roughness in the soles 
 of its feet, by which it is secured from dropping 
 
 * The Oriental hawks of the genus Haliaeetus are half 
 ospreys and half kites. 
 
 F 2
 
 68 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 its slippery prey. It is not common, but IE 
 met with in Scotland, and occasionally on our 
 English coasts. 
 
 The manner in which the osprey seeks its prey, 
 and its mode of obtaining it, are admirably de- 
 scribed by the ornithologists of America, in which 
 country this bird aboimds. On one island near 
 the eastern extremity of Long Island, New York, 
 three hundred nests were counted. The old birds 
 were rearing their young close together, living 
 as peaceably as so many rooks, and were equally 
 harmless in reference to other smaller birds. 
 When looking out for its prey, the osprey sails 
 with great ease and elegance in curved and undu- 
 lating lines, at a considerable height above the 
 water, from whence it precipitates itself upon its 
 quarry ; and not unfrequently, on the fish moving 
 to too great a depth, stops suddenly in its descent, 
 and hovers for a few seconds in the air, suspending 
 itself in the same spot by a quick flapping of its 
 wings. It then makes a second, and generally 
 unerring, dart upon its prey, and regains its 
 former altitude by an elegant spiral flight. 
 
 The poet-naturalist, Wilson, gives a spirited de- 
 scription of the manner in which the eagle of 
 America, which is remarkable for his great par- 
 tiality to fish, turns the industry of the osprey to 
 his own account by robbing it of its prey. He
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 69 
 
 paints the kingly bird perched on some lofty emi- 
 nence, from whence he surveys the neighbouring 
 shore and ocean, and calmly watches the motions 
 of the various feathered tribes that pursue their 
 busy avocations below. The snow-white gulls, 
 slowly winnowing the air ; the busy tringoe cour- 
 sing along the sands ; trains of ducks skimming 
 the surface ; silent and watchful cranes, intent 
 and Avading ; and all the other winged multitudes 
 that subsist on the stores of this vast liquid maga- 
 zine of nature. 
 
 " High over all these hovers one whose action 
 instantly arrests all his attention. By his wide 
 curvature of wing and sudden suspension in the 
 air, he knows him to be the fish-hawk, settling 
 over some devoted victim of the waters. His eye 
 kindles at the sight, and balancing himself with 
 half-opened wings on his branch, he watches the 
 result. Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, 
 rushes the osprey, the roar of his wings reaching 
 the ear as he disappears in the deep, making the 
 surges foam around. Presently he emerges, strug- 
 gling with his prey, and mounting upward. In- 
 stantly the eagle gives chase, and soon gains on 
 the fish-hawk, each exerting himself to mount 
 above the other, displaying in the effort the most 
 beautiful aerial evolutions. The unencumbered 
 eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the point of
 
 70 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 reaching his opponent, when, with a sudden 
 scream, probably of despair and execration, the 
 latter drops his fish. The eagle, poising himself 
 for a moment as if to take a more certain aim, de- 
 scends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp, 
 ere it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten 
 booty silently away to the woods." 
 
 Of the true FALCONS (which give their name to 
 the whole family) we have seven species in Eng- 
 land, of which four are regular visitors, namely, 
 the peregrine, the hobby, the merlin, and the 
 kestrel ; and three only occasional, namely, the 
 gyr falcon (or Iceland falcon), the Greenland 
 falcon, and the orange-legged falcon. 
 
 The GTE (or Iceland) FALCON is the largest in 
 size, and possesses great courage and strength. 
 Large sums were formerly expended in procuring 
 specimens from Iceland and Norway for the pur- 
 poses of falconry, and it was usual to fly them at 
 birds of large size, such as cranes, storks, and 
 herons. This is not a numerous species anywhere, 
 and is very rare in our island, being merely an 
 accidental visitor. The mature plumage of the 
 Iceland falcon is white, with bars or dashes of 
 brown, somewhat resembling that of the snowy 
 owl. 
 
 The PEKEOEINE FALCON is one of the strongest
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 71 
 
 and most beautifully-formed birds of the kind; 
 and though not common, can scarcely be said to 
 be rare in this country. Several of the falcon 
 and hawk species have been made useful to man- 
 kind by being trained to catch game of various sorts ; 
 and from very early days, great pains have been 
 taken in rearing them, by people of many nations. 
 The peregrine, being the commonest species, 
 and possessing considerable courage, power, and 
 tractability, is the falcon, specially, of falconers. 
 In the language of falconry, the female bird is 
 always called the falcon; the male is called the 
 tercel. The " gentil falcon" is the term used in 
 opposition to "low," or "vulgar," denoting the 
 superiority of the bird, which never stoops (like 
 some inferiors of the race) to ignoble game. This 
 bird is said to owe its name (peregrine) to the 
 length of its onward flight, which is also exceed- 
 ingly rapid. Montague says it flies a hundred 
 and fifty miles an hour. 
 
 The heron is the hardest game of the falcon in 
 this country, because of the height at which it 
 flies, and the consequent difficulty of the falcon 
 in getting above it, and the small power it has 
 over any bird that is lower than itself. The heron 
 strives hard to keep above its enemy, because, 
 while it does so, it is perfectly safe. \Vhen, how- 
 ever it is mastered in that, it has still the resource
 
 72 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 of charging, by doubling back the neck, and pro- 
 jecting its sharp-pointed bill upwards, by which 
 means it preserves the head and neck from the 
 falcon's stroke, and also presents a point, on 
 which, should she strike, she would be transfixed, 
 and the heron escape in safety ; as does actually 
 sometimes happen. 
 
 No amusement seems to have been followed 
 with so much eagerness as that of hawking, in 
 almost every country of Europe, and from the 
 earliest times, even before William the Con- 
 queror's days, it was the favourite pastime of the 
 magnates of England. Every young man of rank 
 was taught the mysteries of the art of falconry ; 
 king Alfred is said himself to have written a 
 treatise on the subject, and even ladies followed 
 the sport as eagerly as gentlemen; the amuse- 
 ment being occasionally pursued on foot, but gene- 
 rally on horseback. 
 
 In consequence of the disappearance of wastes 
 and commons, by inclosures and hedges which 
 renders it no easy matter to follow the amusement 
 without danger and delay and also, ever since 
 the introduction of guns, hawking has gradually 
 declined, and may now be said to be nearly at an 
 end, though within late years some attempts 
 have been made to revive it. 
 
 Sir John Sebright, in his 'Observations on
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 73 
 
 hawking,' written 1826, has described the mode 
 of flying peregrine falcons at herons, as then prac- 
 tised ill Norfolk; and a new work on British 
 Falconry has just heen published by Mr. Salvin, 
 an amateur of Yorkshire. A few English hawks 
 are annually trained in the neighbourhood of 
 Bridport in Dorsetshire, for the taking of land- 
 rails in the hemp or flax fields near that town, in 
 which, during some summers, those birds are 
 very plentiful. 
 
 In Eussia, there still exist the practices of the 
 old chase, and all the mysteries of falconry are 
 studied and understood by the grand seignors, 
 who keep up the traditions of their ancestors. 
 Their love of hunting is probably derived from 
 their Scythian progenitors or from the Tartars, 
 whose khans took great delight in the pursuit of 
 beasts of prey by dogs and birds. The large Iceland 
 falcons and all the long-winged hawks are trained 
 with great care, and several establishments of the 
 kind are well known and celebrated in Eussia for 
 the excellence of the birds brought up within 
 their precincts. 
 
 In Siberia, several very strong, fierce, and swift 
 hawks, larger than gyr falcons, and of great 
 courage and beauty, are found, which are held in 
 much esteem, and are sold at high prices. These 
 birds will pursue a fox, and strike out his eyes
 
 74 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and kill urn and it is affirmed that two of them 
 will attack a wolf, blind him by strokes of their 
 wings and beaks, and then destroy him at their 
 leisure with their powerful talons. 
 
 The HOBBY, a true falcon, though of small size, 
 may be considered as a peregrine falcon in minia- 
 ture, but is rather more slender in its proportions. 
 In this country it is a summer visitor, and, though 
 well known, is not very numerous. It prefers 
 wooded districts, where it builds its nest on high 
 trees. The food of this species is small birds and 
 large insects. 
 
 The MEBLIN though one of the smallest of the 
 British falcons, is possessed of rapid flight and 
 great courage, attacking and retaining its hold on 
 birds far superior to itself in size and weight. It 
 has been known to strike a partridge, certainly 
 more than twice its own weight, dead, with a 
 single blow. It skims, like a swallow, over the 
 ground, with surprising swiftness. In the days of 
 falconry this species was much valued. It is a 
 winter visitor in the southern parts of this coun- 
 try, and breeds in some of the northern counties. 
 In the adult bird the back and wings are of a fine 
 blue grey, whence the poet sings, 
 
 " The elfin king, like the merlin's wing 
 Are his pinions of glossy blue." 
 
 Of the inferior grade of falcons is the KESTREL (or
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 75 
 
 windhover), one of the most common of our birds 
 of prey. It is handsome in shape and plumage, 
 and graceful in its motions, and is best known 
 by its remarkable habit of poising, or, as it were, 
 anchoring itself over a particular spot, despite the 
 wind ; whence it has obtained its popular names 
 of " windhoverer," or, hoverer in the wind; 
 and stangel, or " stand-gale." While it is hover- 
 ing, the motion of its wings, when they move, is 
 exceedingly rapid ; its head, at the same time, is 
 bent downwards and turned sideways, so that the 
 eye can command a wide circle of the ground over 
 which the bird is hovering. Its sight is so acute 
 that not a mouse can stir within range but the 
 kestrel pounces on it, with almost certain accuracy. 
 It also kills small birds, as the following anecdote 
 proves. One of them was observed to seize a 
 young blackbird, just able to fly, which it was in 
 the act of carrying off in its talons, when the old 
 blackbird gave chase, with loud cries and apparent 
 determination to rescue her young one. The 
 kestrel, having allowed her to approach un- 
 molested, in an instant dropped the young bird, 
 and as instantaneously caught up the screaming 
 parent, and carried her clear away. 
 
 In the ' Zoologist' for 1853, there is a curious 
 tale of a cat and a kestrel. The bird, being kept 
 in a garden, with his wing cut, contracted a
 
 76 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 friendship for a cat frequenting the same premises, 
 which the latter reciprocated, and was seen to 
 bring a live mouse, and put it down before her 
 friend the kestrel, who immediately attacked and 
 devoured it ; puss in the meantime sitting by, at 
 a short distance, complacently watching the enjoy- 
 ment of her ally. 
 
 The tribe of HAWKS is distinguished from the 
 falcons by the difference in the bill, which, 
 though strong and curved, is destitute of the 
 sharp tooth so remarkable in that division, and 
 also by the short and rounded form of the wing, 
 which reaches only half-way down the tail. 
 There are two British species, the goshawk and 
 the sparrow-hawk. 
 
 The GOSHAWK, equal in size to the largest of 
 the falcons is inferior in powers to them, and its 
 habits and mode of flying at its game, are very 
 different. It does not stoop at its prey, like the 
 falcons, but glides along in a line after it, a mode 
 which, in the language of falconry, is called raking 
 The goshawk was formerly in esteem among 
 falconers, being, though naturally very wild, not 
 difficult to train. It has the habit, when it fails 
 in catching its prey, of perching on a bough, and 
 watching till some new game presents itself. It 
 will remain patiently if the object of its pursuit
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 77 
 
 be driven to covert, waiting and watching until 
 trie game, pressed by hunger, is induced to move ; 
 and it generally succeeds in its object in this 
 manner, from its greater powers of abstinence. 
 
 The goshawk is now very scarce in England, 
 being nearly confined to the mountainous parts 
 of Scotland, where it breeds, and is said to be a 
 great destroyer of game. 
 
 The SPAEBOW-HAWK is of small comparative 
 size, and may be called a goshawk in miniature, 
 its habits being very similar. It is a common and 
 well-known species in most of the wooded dis- 
 tricts throughout this country. Bold, active, 
 and impetuous, it is very destructive ; a danger- 
 ous enemy to small quadrupeds and young birds, 
 and is not unfrequently known to thieve from the 
 barn yard. 
 
 Though shy and untractable, this bird has 
 proved in some instances tameable ; and an inte- 
 resting case in point is given by Bishop Stanley. 
 A young sparrow-hawk was procured and brought 
 up by a person who was fond of rearing pigeons. 
 The hawk, by management and kindness, was at 
 length brought to form a sort of friendship with 
 the pigeons, and to associate with them. At first 
 the pigeons were naturally shy at so close a con- 
 tact with their enemy, but they soon became used 
 to him, and approached without fear. It was
 
 78 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 curious to observe the playfulness of the hawk, 
 and his perfect good-humour at feeding-time. He 
 attended the pigeons, after the meal was over, in 
 their flight round the house and gardens, and at 
 night retired with them to the dove-cot. Nor 
 was he ever known to touch a young one. He 
 seemed quite unhappy if separated from his com- 
 panions, and would utter melancholy cries when 
 purposely shut up alone, which were exchanged 
 for notes of joy and pleasure when any person 
 familiar to him entered the place. The narrator 
 of this account added, "he was as playful as a 
 kitten and as loving as a dove." 
 
 A similar instance is recorded of a pet sparrow- 
 hawk which used to strut about the yard where 
 the poultry were kept, without being feared or 
 regarded. During a severe winter this bird walked 
 with the pigeons into their house at night, and 
 slept in their dwelling ; and, though there was a 
 numerous flock of old and young birds, not one 
 was ever missed. It was long a matter of wonder 
 to the family to whom this bird belonged, why 
 he used to approach the window-sill of the room 
 when the piano was being played, and at length 
 come quite in. On one occasion he was placed 
 on tae edge of the instrument, for the sake more 
 of seeing him ruffle his feathers than from any ex- 
 pectation of giving him pleasure. He stood there
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 79 
 
 for a considerable time, evidently listening with 
 great delight, and being unwilling to remove. 
 After that, he frequently perched on or near the 
 piano, clearly for the sake of enjoying " the con- 
 cord of sweet sounds." 
 
 The KITE is a bird readily distinguished, even 
 at a distance, on the wing, by its long and forked 
 tail. It was formerly a common and well-known 
 bird with us, but it has now become rare in 
 England, a constant war of extermination having 
 been carried on against it, as well as its fellows in 
 general, by the game-keepers. In the olden dirty 
 times, this bird was the scavenger of the English 
 cities ; and it was once so common in some parts of 
 Scotland that children used to be posted to watch 
 for and " sheu" them, armed with a watchman's 
 rattle ; and not without good reason ; for, as 
 Bewick quaintly reports, " the kite is particularly 
 fond of young chickens," a rather unfortunate 
 propensity. 
 
 The flight of this large bird is singularly grace- 
 ful and easy ; and it has obtained its provincial 
 name of "gled" or " glead," from its gliding 
 movement, so soft and smooth, with outspread 
 lout motionless pinions. It has been thus de- 
 scribed by a loving observer of nature. " The 
 sight of a kite, quite at its ease (or at its labour, if 
 you will), on a clear fine day, and when there is
 
 80 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 not a spot in the blue dome of heaven but itself, 
 is really a very fine one. It appears as if it had 
 charmed the atmosphere to move as it lists, and 
 without any effort. The wings and tail are ex- 
 panded, and yet they appear hardly to move, as 
 the bird ascends and descends, and wheels and 
 turns, now in wide sweeping circles, and anon, 
 dropping down, it turns fairly round on the point 
 of the wing, as a pivot. After it has been beating 
 over one pasture without success, and there is a 
 hill or wood, or any place not adapted to its 
 habits to be passed over, before it can reach its 
 nest, the beauty and easy smoothness with which 
 it gets up, are unrivalled. It climbs, eagle's 
 height, without eagle's effort, and from the very 
 top of heaven surveys the land, then shoots away 
 to some distant places better adapted to its pur- 
 pose." 
 
 One of the most common of the larger kind of 
 hawks which inhabit the wooded districts of this 
 country is the BUZZABD. It feeds on small quad- 
 rupeds and birds, and is of considerable size and 
 strength, but its courage and energy are by no 
 means equal. It is sluggish and inactive, and 
 slow in flight, seemingly preferring to watch from 
 a tree, the accidental approach of some animal, 
 rather than to hunt abroad for game. When 
 pressed by hunger it may be seen soaring in the
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 81 
 
 air, in easy undulations, over the fields close by 
 the woods it inhabits. It builds in old trees, not 
 unfrequently taking possession of the deserted 
 nest of some other bird. The general length of 
 the buzzard is one foot eight or ten inches. The 
 plumage is subject to great variation, the upper 
 parts usually of a deep brown, and the lower of 
 yellowish white, spotted with brown or reddish 
 dashes. 
 
 The last section or tribe of this family is that 
 of the HARRIERS ; which are birds of considerable 
 size and power, and very active in the pursuit of 
 their prey. Their flight is easy, graceful and 
 buoyant, but rather slow and near the ground. 
 These birds have a singular mode of hunting over 
 the surface, like a dog in search of game, whence 
 they have probably got their name, They are 
 also sometimes called " harpies." There are 
 three British species of harrier the marsh, the 
 hen, and the ash- coloured (or Montagu's) harrier. 
 
 The largest and most powerful is the JIABSH 
 HABBIEB, which, as its name implies, frequents 
 marshes and uncultivated heaths and moors. It 
 is not uncommon in this country in the fenny 
 districts ; its prey being small quadrupeds, water- 
 birds, and reptiles. This silent-winged maraudei 
 skims along the ground, and suddenly drops upon
 
 82 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 its prey, seizing the victim with its sharp claws 
 as it passes. Not unfrequently it may be found 
 beating over rabbit-warrens near marshes or on 
 the shores of the sea; and it prefers the early 
 morning or the evening after rain, when the 
 young rabbits come out to feed in the greatest 
 numbers. The female is about one foot seven 
 or eight inches in length. The general colour of 
 the plumage is deep reddish-brown, the crown of 
 the head being yellowish-white. The male is 
 smaller, and lighter in colours, as is the case with 
 all the species of this genus.* 
 
 The HEX-HAEEIEE is so called on account of its 
 supposed partiality for the young broods of the 
 poultry -yard. It is also very destructive in pre- 
 serves, having courage and strength enough to 
 pounce upon and kill a partridge, a red grouse, 
 or even a pheasant. The sexes in this species 
 differ so much both in size and plumage, that 
 they have been often described as different birds. 
 The male, from his almost uniform ash-grey 
 
 * The Eev. Richard Lubbock, says, " Twenty years back 
 this bird might have been called the Norfolk hawk ; it 
 was so generally dispersed amongst the broads. Almost 
 every pool of any extent had its pair of them ; tiny consumed 
 the day in beating round and round the reeds which skirted 
 the water. This was done for hours, incessantly. All the 
 birds wounded by the sportsman, fell to the share cf the 
 moor-buzzarl.'
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 83 
 
 colour, is called, provincially, the dove-hawk, and 
 the blue-hawk. The female is called a ringtail, 
 and is reddish-brown. The head has a circular 
 ruff of spotted feathers round the face, which 
 gives it an expression quite distinct from any 
 other of the tribe. 
 
 The hen-harrier, though nowhere very nume- 
 rous, is pretty generally distributed in England, 
 Ireland, and Scotland. The favourite haunts of 
 the bird are upland heaths and warrens, which it 
 prefers to marshes. 
 
 MONTAGU'S HAEEIEE is easily distinguished from 
 the preceding by being much more slender in 
 shape and not nearly so heavy, its average weight 
 being about nine and a quarter ounces ; that of 
 the hen-harrier about thirteen ounces. In their 
 habits and haunts they are very similar. 
 
 6 2
 
 84 
 
 EAPACIOUS BIRDS, OR BIRDS OF PREY. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OWLS Nine British species of Owls The Snowy Owl, the 
 king of his tribe The Barn, or White Owl, the most com- 
 mon and useful of our British Owls Entertaining account 
 of a colony of these birds Kee-vie, the Tame Owl The 
 Ivy, or Tawny Owl Inhabits Woods and Forests Scrip- 
 tural references to the Owl. 
 
 THERE is still another family to be classed among 
 the rapacious birds, and forming a natural link in 
 the chain after eagles and falcons ; namely, OWLS. 
 The chief peculiarities of this tribe consist in the 
 advantages afforded them in their structure, for 
 seeing, flying, and hearing. Some of the birds 
 we have already noticed seek their prey in dif- 
 ferent degrees of light, and their eyes are nicely 
 adapted to meet their pequliar wants in this res- 
 pect. The night birds of prey have very full and 
 large eyes, and the iris is much more susceptible 
 than in the day -birds ; so that, in a strung light, 
 the bird seems partially to close the pupil and be 
 half-blinded, and, as it were, bewildered. By 
 this peculiarity, the eyes of the owl can be ad- 
 justed to the various degrees of light it encounters 
 while in search of prey.
 
 -|fei->% X l .* 
 
 - 
 
 > V \ ^ , 
 
 ,/jrtfr r \ ' 
 m m'- M 
 
 _^BKmi*'*~'CaP?'' -^ v 
 
 !L ;; : -^ ; 
 
 1. LOSG-EABED Owi,. 2. SSOWY Owi. 3. TAWJTT OWL.
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 87 
 
 The softness and pliancy of the owl's feathers 
 are also remarkable, fitting it to move noiselessly 
 through the air. Its plumage is so very abundant 
 it looks a thick, stout, even clumsy bird, but 
 when stripped of its feathers it is surprisingly 
 small. 
 
 The ear of the owl is exceedingly susceptible, 
 being very large, and of peculiar form, with a sort 
 of double valve outside, which can be thrown 
 apart so as to concentrate, as well as easily admit, 
 every slight vibration of the air. 
 
 Thus softly gliding on noiseless wing, with its 
 huge acutely-seeing eye, and sharp ear, the owl is 
 well-fitted for his work, which is to hunt the 
 meadows and hedge-banks with the regularity of 
 a pointer-dog, in search of mice, young rats, small 
 birds and insects. 
 
 The very name of this bird is associated with 
 gloomy and solemn ideas. Its note, deep, mono- 
 tonous, and sad, has been well called " one of the 
 most melancholy love-songs in the whole chorus 
 of nature." The time of its appearance too the 
 mysterious twilight hour ; its ghost-like flittings 
 to-and-fro ; its secluded habits and favourite 
 haunts in hollow trees, crumbling ruins, steeples, 
 and church-yards ; all have combined to procxire 
 for it a superstitious dread among the ignorant. 
 
 Yet the owl is in reality an interesting bird :
 
 88 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 one of the most harmless, and even useful of the 
 feathered race. The immense number of vermin 
 it destroys is incredible ; and it thus preserves 
 the crops from one of their greatest dangers. 
 
 A striking instance of the usefulness of owls in 
 this respect, occurred several years ago, in Somer- 
 setshire, when, in the course of the summer, a 
 countless host of mice having overrun the country 
 so as to threaten the destruction of vegetation, 
 their ravages were checked by the sudden arrival 
 of an assemblage of owls, which resorted from all 
 parts, in order to prey upon them. 
 
 There are nine different species of owls, more 
 or less frequenting this country; four of which 
 have feathers on the sides of their heads, which 
 they raise so as to resemble ears or horns ; whence 
 they are called " horned owls." These appen- 
 dages, however, are neither ears nor horns, and 
 have nothing whatever to do with the real ear. 
 The other five species, being without these 
 feathers, are called " smooth headed." 
 
 Of these nine species four are regular visitors ; 
 they are the barn, the ivy, the long-horned, and 
 the short-horned owl. The remaining five species 
 are accidental ; they are the eagle, the snowy, 
 the little, Tengmalm's, and Scop's owl. 
 
 By far the most beautiful of these is the SNOWY 
 OWL, which may be fairly called, for its noble
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 89 
 
 appearance, the king of owls. It is a rare visitant 
 in England ; its favourite home being among the 
 perpetual snows of the northern regions. Its 
 thick feathery coating makes it impervious to the 
 intensity of the cold, and its dazzling plumage 
 renders it almost invisible as it skims along the 
 snowy plains ; so that it can approach its prey un- 
 awares. 
 
 But the most common, familiar, and useful of 
 all British owls, is the BABN, or WHITE OWL. 
 
 " The owl that, watching in the barn, 
 Sees the mouse creeping in the corn, 
 Sits still, and shuts his round blue eyes 
 As if he slept until he 'spies 
 The little beast within his stretch 
 Then starts, and seizes on the wretch ! " 
 
 This bird, instead of avoiding man, comes close to 
 his dwelling, and often frequents the barns and 
 sheds of the farmer, whose true friend he is. 
 
 Mr. Waterton, a naturalist of note, paid the 
 greatest attention to the habits of this bird, and 
 has given a very interesting account of them, 
 and the benefits it confers on man. He says : 
 " This pretty aerial wanderer of the night often 
 comes into my room ; and after flitting to-and-fro, 
 on wing so soft and silent that he is scarcely heard, 
 he takes his departure from the same window at 
 which he had entered. I own I have a great liking
 
 90 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 for this bird; and I have offered it hospitality 
 and protection on account of its persecutions, and 
 for its many services to me." 
 
 After lamenting the evil consequences to his 
 favourite, of the old and deeply-rooted prejudices 
 every where entertained against him, Mr. W. says, 
 " Amongst the numberless verses which might be 
 quoted against the family of the owl, I think I 
 only know of one little ode which expresses any 
 pity for it. Our nursery maid used to sing it to 
 the tune of the 'Storm,' 'Cease, rude Boreas, 
 blustering railer.' I remember the first two 
 stanzas of it : 
 
 " Once I was a monarch's daughter, 
 
 And sat on a lady's knee, 
 But am now a nightly rover, 
 
 Banish'd to the ivy tree ; 
 Crying, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, 
 
 Hoo, hoo, hoo, my feet are cold ! 
 Pity me, for here you see me, 
 
 Persecuted, poor and old." 
 
 Mr. Waterton resolved that he would respond 
 to this appeal for compassion which his infant ear 
 had eagerly drunk in, and which, it should seem, 
 he never after forgot. He accordingly, in the 
 year 1813, after his return from America, com- 
 menced his friendly operations on behalf of the 
 poor owls in his park, which, till then, had " had 
 a sad time of it," owing to the popular prejudices
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 91 
 
 against them. He made a sort of dwelling for 
 them, on the ruins of an old gateway, and trained 
 some ivy round it, so as to conceal the place. In 
 about a month after everything was ready, a pair 
 of harn owls came and established themselves 
 there. This succeeded so well, that he provided 
 similar places, which were also occupied by owls. 
 He so contrived the first recess in the gateway 
 that he could examine it whenever he pleased, 
 and the birds, confident of protection, soon be- 
 trayed no fear when strangers mounted up to take 
 a peep into their abode. 
 
 There was now an opportunity to study the 
 habits of the owls. Several broods of young ones 
 were brought off, and a rather unexpected piece of 
 information was obtained ; namely, that these birds, 
 unlike others, breed at all seasons, as he found a 
 brood hatched in September, and another in De- 
 cember. It appears that the barn owl sleeps 
 standing. The noise mistaken by many for snor- 
 ing, is the cry of the young birds for food. This 
 bird occasionally preys on fish. 
 
 Mr. Waterton says, " Some years ago, on a fine 
 evening, in the month of July, long before it was 
 dark, as I was standing on the middle of the 
 bridge, and minuting the owl by my watch, 
 as she brought mice into her nest, all on a 
 sudden she dropped perpendicularly into the
 
 92 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 water. Thinking that she had fallen down in 
 epilepsy, my first thoughts were to go and fetch 
 the boat ; but before I had well got to the end of 
 the bridge, I saw the owl rise out of the water 
 with a fish in her claws, and take it to the nest." 
 
 There can be no doubt that if this useful bird 
 caught its food by day instead of during the 
 night we should have ocular proof of its value in 
 thinning the country of mice, and it would be pro- 
 tected and encouraged everywhere. It is said 
 that when satisfied, this owl will hide the re- 
 mainder of its meat like a dog. It is common in 
 most, if not in all, the counties of England. In 
 Scotland it is less numerous, and appears to de- 
 crease in numbers as we approach northward. 
 
 The following particulars respecting a tame 
 white owl, are taken from the Rev. L. Jenyns ; 
 " Observations on Natural History." A young 
 one was taken from a nest in the woods at Dil- 
 stone, in Northumberland, and given by a lady to 
 her children, who brought it up. Great pains 
 seem to have been taken to domesticate this owl, 
 which consequently became very familiar. In 
 imitation of its own cry, it received the name of 
 " Kee-vie"to which it readily answered when within 
 call. It usually reposed during the day under the 
 branches of an old Scotch fir, where it remained 
 apparently in a sleeping condition, unless called,
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 93 
 
 when it would rouse itself, and come in hopes of 
 being fed. One of its most striking peculiarities 
 is -said to have been its great fondness for music. 
 It would often come into the drawing-room of an 
 evening, on the shoulder of one of the children, 
 and, on hearing the tones of the piano, wotild sit 
 with its eyes fixed gravely upon the instrument, and 
 its head on one side, in an attitude of attention ; 
 when, suddenly spreading its wings, it would 
 alight on the keys and making a dart at the per- 
 former's fingers with its beak, would continue 
 hopping about as if pleased with the execution. 
 
 After a while, the flights of this owl into the 
 woods became longer, and he only returned at 
 dusk to receive his usual supper. By-and-by it 
 was observed that he did not devour his meal in 
 the kitchen as formerly, but fled along the 
 passage, dragging the meat with him, till he 
 reached the garden door, when he flew with it to 
 a part of the shrubbery ; on being followed, it 
 was discovered that he had brought with him a 
 companion who, not having courage to accompany 
 him the whole way, remained at a respectful dis- 
 tance to receive his bounty. After having sup- 
 plied his visitor in this manner, he returned to 
 the kitchen and leisurely devoured his own por- 
 tion. This practice was continued for some 
 months, till at length one evening he was missed
 
 94 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and nowhere to be found. His companion, it is 
 said, continued to visit the spot alone for several 
 weeks, uttering doleful cries, but could never be 
 persuaded to come nearer to be fed. It proved in 
 the end, that the favourite had been killed ; and 
 its stuffed skin was one day recognised in a wood- 
 man's hut, by the children who had so assiduously 
 nurtured and brought it up. 
 
 Equally well known with the barn owl is the 
 IVY, or TAWNY OWL (also called the wood owl), 
 the familiar prowler of our woods and forests, 
 whence it issues, at nightfall, in search of food, 
 uttering its loud and melancholy hoot, and busily 
 hunting for its prey. It is strictly nocturnal in 
 its habits, seldom leaving its retreat during the 
 day, but remaining ensconced in the hollow of an 
 old tree, or amid the masses of ivy which cluster 
 around the giants of the forest. The young 
 broods are generally hatched in a hole of a tree, 
 and are supplied by the parent birds with abun- 
 dance of food ; collections of rejected bones being 
 not unfrequently found by the woodman, in these 
 owl-nurseries, which have served the same pur- 
 pose for successive years. The general colour of 
 this species is tawny yellow, with dusky bars. 
 
 The owl is several times mentioned in Scrip- 
 ture, the whole tribe being doubtless included in 
 the general term. It is always alluded to as em-
 
 RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 95 
 
 blematic of solitude and mourning, and is classed 
 among the " doleful creatures." Thus, the afflicted 
 patriarch, bemoaning his sad and forlorn state, 
 cries, " I am a companion to owls ;" and the 
 psalmist in the day of his trouble bewails himself, 
 " I am like a pelican of the wilderness : I am like 
 an owl of the desert," Psalm cii. 6. It is striking 
 to find in these incidental allusions such clear 
 reference to the characteristic habits and tones of 
 these creatures, and to see how in all ages they 
 have been suggestive of similar ideas to the ima- 
 gination and feelings of man.
 
 96 
 
 ORDER II. INSESSORES. 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 CHAPTEB I. 
 
 The SHRIKES, or Butcher-birds Their singular mode of 
 impaling their prey The FLYCATCHEBS The Spotted 
 Flycatcher or common Beam-bird Two anecdotes, illus- 
 trative of the instinct and parental affection of this bird 
 The Pied Flycatcher The THRUSHES The Missel 
 Thrush The Song Thrush Description of the manners 
 of this bird Friendship between two Thrushes The 
 REDWING and the FEELDFABE The WAXES OUSEL, or 
 Dipper Description of this little bird, in its favourite 
 haunts The Rrxo OUSEL. 
 
 THE second order is that of the PERCHING 
 BIRDS. It includes a much greater number of 
 species than any of the others, and the birds be- 
 longing to it are distinguished by their superior 
 intelligence, and by the variety and excellence of 
 their powers of song. This order is subdivided 
 into tribes ; the notch beaked, the full and strong 
 beaked, the conical beaked, and the climbers. 
 
 The division that ranks nearest, to the rapacious 
 birds, and forms, asitwere, the connecting link with 
 them, is the SHRIKES ; an interesting family, whose 
 habits bear a strong resemblance to those of the
 
 1. RED-BACKED SHBIKE 
 3 MISSEL THRUSH. 
 
 2. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 
 4. WATEB OUSEL. 
 H
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 99 
 
 birds of prey. The shrikes have been called the 
 falcons of the insect world ; pursuing and destroy- 
 ing as they do myriads of their tribes ; and also 
 butcher birds, because of the singular habit soiue 
 of them have of impaling the objects they have 
 caught. Their usual food is insects ; but they 
 also devour small birds, mice, frogs, etc. ; and 
 they make use of the bill in killing their prey, 
 which they transfix on a thorn or pointed stick. 
 One of the reasons for this very singular propen- 
 sity seems to be the greater convenience it gives 
 in tearing the flesh to pieces ; for, if confined in a 
 cage, they generally fasten their food to the wires 
 before commencing the repast. It is supposed 
 also, that as the quantity they destroy, especially 
 of insects, far surpasses their need ; they may be 
 placed on the thorns as baits, to allure smaller birds. 
 
 The shrike has considerable power of voice, and 
 is capable of such variation that it can imitate the 
 notes of some of the little birds ; which power it 
 is said to use as a decoy. It is no wonder that 
 the shrike should be an object of fear to his 
 feebler neighbours, which manifest the utmost 
 antipathy to his presence, mobbing, attacking, 
 and driving him away, seeming perfectly aware of 
 his plundering propensities. 
 
 There are three British species of this "bird : 
 the GREAT SHKIKE is uncommon, and the WOODCHAT 
 
 H 2
 
 100 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 SHRIKE very rare. The RED-BACKED SHRIKE visits this 
 country in summer, and is one of our latest birds 
 of passage. Its young ones brought up from the 
 nest, grow exceedingly tame, and make very en- 
 gaging pets. The Rev. Mr. Lubbock, in his 
 " Fauna of Norfolk," mentions this, and adds that 
 a friend of his, who had given up falconry, amused 
 himself by seeing his tame shrike catch flies, in 
 the room he inhabited. 
 
 Of the FLYCATCHERS there are two British kinds 
 one common, the other very rare. These birds 
 are smaller than the shrikes, and their bills are 
 less formidable, as their prey is softer, while their 
 wings are longer, since they require to fly swiftly, 
 in pursuit of insects, taken on the wing. 
 
 The SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (frequently called the 
 beam-bird), is one of our latest but, at the same 
 time, most regular, summer visitants. It frequents 
 gardens, and often builds in holes of trees, upon 
 the ends of beams, or on the branches of trees, 
 nailed against Avails. It is believed that the same 
 pair of birds return to occupy the same spot, for 
 several years in succession. They have no song, and 
 merely make a chirping call-note. They act the 
 part of hawks among flies, and are believed to live 
 almost exclusively on winged insects. In the 
 summer days, during those bright and sultry
 
 PERCHIXG BIRDS. 101 
 
 hours, when the flics are on the "wing, these birds 
 may be seen on the look-out for food ; generally 
 perched on some prominent twig, or on the top of 
 a post or rail, from whence in an instant they dart, 
 swift as a shot, on the approach of an insect, 
 which is no sooner seen than caught, and appa- 
 rently, with great ease, by a short and rapid move- 
 ment. With equal rapidity it is carried to the 
 twig on which the bird was perched, and where 
 he again keeps watch, as before. It is a very 
 quiet little bird, as silent in its manner as it is 
 sober in its plumage of ash-coloured brown. 
 
 A remarkable fact, exhibiting the instinctive 
 sagacity of this bird, is related by T. A. Knight, 
 Esq. : A flycatcher built in his stove several suc- 
 cessive years, and he observed that the bird quitted 
 its eggs whenever the thermometer in his house 
 was above 72, and resumed her place on the nest 
 again, when it sank below that temperature. 
 
 A still more striking story is told by Mr. \Yhite, 
 who says, that a pair built every year in the vines 
 that grew on the walls of his house at Selborne. 
 One year they chanced to place the nest on a 
 naked bough, and a hot sunny season coming on 
 before the brood was half-fledged, the heat became 
 insupportable, and must have inevitably destroyed 
 the tender young, had not the parent birds devised 
 a means to save them, by hovering over the nest
 
 102 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 during all the hotter hours, while with expanded 
 wings and mouths gaping for breath, they screened 
 oft' the heat from their suffering offspring. 
 
 The other, the PIED FLYCATCHER, is seen only in 
 particular places, and is very rare. It is a bird 
 of passage, and resembles the spotted in its 
 habits. 
 
 The THRUSH TRIBE must next be mentioned. 
 There are several species in England. The missel 
 thrush, the fieldfare, the song thrush, the redwing, 
 the blackbird, the water ousel (or dipper), and the 
 ring ousel. 
 
 The MISSEL THRUSH (so called on account of its 
 fondness for the mistletoe-berries), is one of the 
 largest of his kind, and is the earliest song-bird of 
 the year. His strain is something like that of the 
 blackbird, and he has a singular manner of giving 
 forth three distinct notes together, then pausing, 
 and after a time repeating his triplet note. Hence 
 he is sometimes called the thrice-cock, and as he 
 frequently sings before, and during the time of 
 wind and rain, he has also the name of storm-cock. 
 He is a bold bird, vigilant in defence of his young, 
 and when he utters his harsh note of alann, it 
 serves, like the bugle-call, to warn all the 
 warblers of the grove that danger is near ; and 
 the chorus is silenced, until he again mounts to
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 103 
 
 his favourite perch " on the topmost twig that 
 looks up at the sky," and pours forth his glad 
 song of deliverance. 
 
 The SONG (or garden) THRUSH, is a well known 
 and general favourite. His song is by many con- 
 sidered one of the finest of all the melodies of the 
 grove, and it is continued through almost ever}' 
 month of the year. This bird has also many re- 
 commendations in his elegant shape, sprightly 
 actions, and engaging ways. Every one is fami- 
 liar with the manners of the thrush, and will 
 recognise a life-like picture of him in the following 
 description : " Grubs and worms are the principal 
 food of nestling thrushes, quantities of which they 
 may be seen collecting on lawns, particularly after 
 showers have moistened the earth ; and to an 
 observer nothing can be more interesting than the 
 way they and their associates, the blackbirds, set 
 about it. 
 
 " Watch an old thrush pounce down on a lawn 
 moistened with dew or rain. At first he stands 
 motionless, apparently thinking of nothing at all ; 
 his eye vacant, or with an unmeaning gaze. 
 Suddenly, he cocks his ear on one side, makes a 
 glancing sort of dart with his head and neck, 
 gives, perhaps, one or two hops, and then stops, 
 again listening attentively, and his eye glistening 
 with animation. His beak almost touches the
 
 104 BRITISH LAKD BIKDf. 
 
 ground he draws back his head, as if to make a 
 determined peck. Again he pauses, listens, hops, 
 perhaps once or twice, scarcely changing his 
 position, and pecks smartly on the sod ; then, is 
 once more motionless as a stuffed bird. But he 
 knows well what he is about ; for, after another 
 moment's pause, after having ascertained that all 
 is right, he pecks away with might and main, and 
 soon draws out a worm, which his fine sense of 
 hearing had informed him was not far off, and 
 which his hops and previous peckings had attracted 
 to the surface to escape the approach of what the 
 poor worm perhaps thought might be his under- 
 ground enemy, the mole." 
 
 Many amusing anecdotes are told of this bird. 
 One must suffice here ; it is mentioned by Mr. 
 Knapp, in his "Journal of a Naturalist." He 
 says, " We observed this summer, two common 
 thrushes, frequenting the shrubs on the green in 
 our garden. There was an association and friend- 
 ship between them that called our attention to 
 their actions. One of them seemed ailing, or 
 feeble from some accident ; for though it hopped 
 about it seemed unable to get enough food. Its 
 companion, an active, sprightly bird, would 
 frequently bring it worms or bruised snails, when 
 they partook of the banquet together. The sickly 
 bird would wait patiently, understand the actions,
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 105 
 
 expect the assistance of the other, and come to 
 meet it on its approach. This proceeding was 
 continued for some days ; but after a time \ve 
 missed the foster-bird, which probably died, or 
 by reason of its weakness met with some fatal 
 accident." 
 
 Thrushes and blackbirds are indefatigable 
 destroyers of snails, which they hunt out from 
 their winter retreats under the hedges and walls, 
 where they nestle by hundreds. So industriously 
 is this search carried on, that the hedgerow is 
 marked by a line of broken shells, as the birds 
 bring them out from their holes, and batter the 
 shells to pieces. The adroitness with which 
 they break shells against a stone is well known, 
 A favourite stone will occasionally be seen in a 
 wood surrounded by the refuse shells, scattered 
 around in greater or less quantities, for several 
 feet. A tame thrush has been known to eat house- 
 flies with avidity, and the earnestness which he 
 exhibited while a person was feeding him with 
 them was truly amusing. 
 
 The REDWIXG and FIELDFARE are but visitants 
 here. The former is the smallest of the British 
 thrushes. It considerably resembles the common 
 thrush, and its notes are similar. It comes to our 
 shores about September, arriving in flocks, and 
 mingling, readily, with the fieldfare. Both these
 
 106 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 birds are natives of the northern regions, and 
 while here, being in a foreign country, they have 
 evident marks of keeping a kind of watch, to give 
 notice of the approach of danger. The fieldfare 
 comes shortly before old Michaelmas, and departs 
 very early in May. Few birds are more regular 
 in their time of arrival than these. It is indeed 
 wonderful, when we consider the amazing distances 
 birds have to travel, the accidents they are liable 
 to meet ; the adverse winds and rough weather they 
 brave how accurate are the times of their going 
 and coming. It appears almost miraculous. If a 
 table were kept, year by year, of their motions on 
 these occasions, perhaps they would not be found to 
 vary a fortnight in a hundred years, and yet what 
 seas, rocks, and continents, have many of them to 
 traverse ! And so it has been from of old, even in 
 the days when the prophet Jeremiah rebuked 
 Israel for their want of consideration, teaching 
 them wisdom by the birds ; saying, "The stork in 
 the heavens knoweth her appointed time ; and the 
 turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the 
 time of their coming ; but my people know not 
 the judgment of the Lord." 
 
 That curious little bird, the WATKR OUSKL, or 
 dipper, is allied to the thrush and blackbird in 
 many points ; but it has also the habits and powers 
 of the moor-hen, living constantly b}- the sides of
 
 PEKCHING BIRDS. 107 
 
 rivers, swimming and diving with great facility, 
 and feeding principally upon the various water- 
 insects which abound in those places where it 
 haunts. It is chiefly found in the mountainous 
 parts of England and Scotland, and in Wales it is 
 resident here all the year round. The form of the 
 dipper is rather " dumpy," but it has a sprightly 
 look and manner, and is a very interesting bird. 
 It catches part of its food standing on land, and 
 part as it floats on the water, but also a con- 
 siderable part under the water, and to the water it 
 retreats when threatened with danger on land. 
 It walks into, or lights upon, the surface rising, 
 descending, or moving sideways, and apparently 
 walking at the bottom of the stream. In fact, it 
 appears to have almost as much command over 
 itself there, as other birds have in the air. Its 
 plumage is remarkably thick and close, like that 
 of water-birds, and its feathers are supplied with 
 oil, so that they do not become wet, even though 
 it be a considerable time under the water. 
 
 This bird inhabits the most romantic situations, 
 generally in the midst of fine scenery, and always 
 among the rocks and banks of a rushing roaring 
 torrent, or a clear bubbling mountain stream. 
 The noise of the water hurrying over its rocky 
 bed, is his sweetest music, and he can never be 
 happy unless within reach of his native torrent
 
 108 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 He never leaves it ; let it wind as it may, he follows 
 its course, now up, now down, but always near 
 the water ; or he will sit in the middle of the 
 brook, the water splashing around him, and sing 
 his melodious little song, in the gladness of his 
 heart. 
 
 The RING OUSEL is also a regular British thrush, 
 but it is not a common species. It is occasionally 
 observed in small flocks in spring and autumn, on 
 its passage to and from the regions where it breeds. 
 The whole plumage is black, all the feathers 
 edged with ash-grey. On the upper part of the 
 breast is a large crescent-shaped stripe of pure 
 white. The food selected by this species is similar 
 to that of the blackbird snails, insects, fruit, and 
 hawberries, before the birds leave us for the winter, 
 and ivy berries, when they return in the spring. 
 Buffon says they feed largely on grapes in France, 
 and are at that time delicious eating; he adds, 
 that on account of their habit of placing their 
 nests on or near the ground, they are sometimes 
 called merles terres (ground thrushes). Their 
 cry of alarm, when disturbed much, resembles that 
 of the blackbird.* 
 
 * There have been three other foreign species of thrush 
 killed in England, WHITE'S THRUSH, the ROCK THRUSH. 
 and the GOLD-TENTED THRUSH.
 
 1. RAVEN, a. STAULISO. 3. JAT. 4. ROSE-COLOURED P ASTOB.
 
 Ill 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 
 The PIES and the CKOWS The RAYEN Superstitions about 
 this bird Account of a Roman Raven Touching affec- 
 tion of a Raven for her young " Taff," the tame raven 
 The CROW and the ROOK Marked difference between 
 these two birds Enmity between them Anecdote illus- 
 trative of this Are Rooks friends or foes to the farmer ? 
 Description of a Rookery Anecdote of a colony of 
 these birds The Royston Crow The CHOUGH The 
 JACKDAW Character of this bird Curious account of 
 Jackdaws stealing the flower labels in the Botanic 
 Gardens at Cambridge. 
 
 ANOTHER distinct family of the perching birds, 
 comprises the PIES, and the CROWS. The 
 raven, the hooded, and carrion crows, the rook 
 and the jackdaw, are names well known to us all ; 
 and included in the same tribe are the jay and the 
 magpie. 
 
 The RAVEX, from his size and character, naturally 
 takes the lead. He is to be seen in most parts of 
 the world; and his ominous croak has got for 
 him a world-wide fame. In days of ignorance 
 and superstition, this sound was supposed to an- 
 nounce approaching calamity, and the changes of 
 his notes were carefully studied by the artful
 
 112 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 soothsayers, who pretended to learn from them the 
 secrets of futurity. The raven is a very hardy, 
 crafty, and wary bird. It is exceedingly vora- 
 cious, and seems to be a sort of glutton in its 
 propensities, gorging itself with carrion, which it 
 
 scents out with great readiness, probably having 
 
 
 
 the sense of smell as well as of sight, in surprising 
 perfection. This disposition renders it useful as a 
 scavenger ; but as it destroys young animals it is 
 the detestation of the husbandman. 
 
 It is very easily domesticated, and, if pains be 
 taken to teach it, can learn to do many amusing 
 things. A raven, we are informed by the his- 
 torian Pliny, that had been kept in the temple of 
 Castor, flew down into the shop of a tailor, who 
 was highly delighted with its visits, and taught 
 the bird several tricks ; and also to pronounce the 
 names of the Emperor Tiberius and the royal 
 family. The tailor was beginning to grow rich 
 by the numbers of those who came to see this 
 wonderful bird; till an envious neighbour, dis- 
 pleased at his success, killed the creature. The 
 Romans took the poor tailor's part, punished the 
 man who killed it ; and gave to the raven all the 
 honours of a magnificent interment. 
 
 The raven with us may be called the herald of 
 the year. It makes its nest early in the spring ; 
 usually building on the top of some high tree, re-
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 113 
 
 niaining constant to the place once chosen, and 
 continuing for a series of years to build there ; 
 the same faithful pair returning season after 
 season, and rearing their young broods with the 
 most persevering attachment. Though one of the 
 shyest and most suspicious of birds, the raven has 
 been known to die rather than forsake its post ; 
 and a very striking and well authenticated in- 
 stance is given by Mr. "White, the naturalist of 
 Selborne, who tells ho'f' the fond mother raven 
 sat on her nest while the tree she had inhabited, 
 time immemorial, was being felled by the wood- 
 man's axe ; and how, when it gave way, the 
 faithful bird was flung from her place and fell 
 dead to the ground. 
 
 Numerous anecdotes of tame ravens are on 
 record. In the " Zoologist," for 1851, the follow- 
 ing is given: "When out shooting a few days 
 since, I observed an old man, apparently in con- 
 versation with some other person. On reaching 
 him, I found he had been talking with Mr. Crother's 
 raven, which was perched on an elm tree near 
 him, keeping crows from a wheat-field. I called 
 to the bird by name ' Taff,' and he immediately 
 answered ' Halloo !' in a very deep and hoarse 
 tone. This was about a mile from the house. A 
 few days after I heard that poor Taff would never 
 keep crows again ; having been killed by a grey-
 
 114 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 hound, while indulging his favourite propensity 
 for biting the end of the dog's tail. At the same 
 time I learned the following particulars of this 
 remarkable bird. He was very tame, having his 
 meals with the servants, and his dessert with his 
 master, to whom he was much attached, sitting on 
 his window-sill, as soon as it was light, until he 
 arose, and accompanying him part of the way, if 
 he went from home ; meeting him on his return, 
 watching in a tree for hours ; and as soon as he 
 saw him again, flying and perching either on the 
 horse's head or his master's shoulder. He took 
 great delight in coursing; frequently turning a 
 hare by his swoop. He was very mischievous ; 
 hiding things and thieving ; and on one occasion 
 he stole seventeen shillings ; and the thief might 
 never have been detected had he not been at 
 length seen, flying with a shilling in his mouth. 
 He had a great dislike to children, attacking them 
 if they came near him. His roosting-place was a 
 high tree, near the house, and he frequently 
 alarmed persons passing underneath by some un- 
 earthly ejaculation." 
 
 From the raven we pass to the CROW and the 
 ROOK ; birds which are ignorantly considered, by 
 many persons, to be one and the same. But this 
 is a great mistake. The real crow, commonly 
 called the carrion crow, more nearly resembles the
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 115 
 
 raven ; living, like it, in pairs, and feeding on car- 
 rion, as well as on young fowls, rabbits and worms. 
 
 The rook, on the contrary, is a sociable bird ; 
 living in company with its fellows, and preferring 
 a vegetable diet ; or such grubs and insects as it 
 finds in the fields. There are other points of dif- 
 ference in the beaks of these birds. That of the 
 rook is distinguished by the naked and scurfy 
 white skin at its base ; a peculiarity which natur- 
 alists are at a loss to account for. The plumage 
 of the common crow differs, too, in colour from 
 that of the rook, being of a greenish-blue ; while 
 the rook's is more inclined to a rich purple. 
 
 Nor are these birds disposed to associate ; on 
 the contrary, the crows are regarded by the rooks 
 as enemies, and the intrusion of a couple of car- 
 rion crows will suffice to drive them from their 
 tenements. This was shown in a remarkable 
 instance which occurred about two years ago, at 
 Hatton Hall, in the neighbourhood of which a 
 large colony of rooks had been established for 
 some years. As usual, in the month of March, 
 the rooks came, and began repairing their nests ; 
 stealing materials from those of their neighbours 
 unless most sharply watched by their respective 
 owners. When, all on a sudden, proceedings 
 came to a stop, after some three or four nests 
 were nearly completed, and several others begun.
 
 116 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 The rooks abandoned their purpose and retreated 
 to a rookery at some distance, where they settled 
 and built. On examination, it was discovered 
 that a couple of carrion crows had seized upon 
 the rooks' domains, and thus summarily expelled 
 them. At first the poor birds showed great reluc- 
 tance to quit their loved homes, and when, once 
 or twice, the crows disappeared for a short time, 
 they ventured to return to their half-finished 
 nests, from which, however, they were sure to be 
 driven away by the return of their enemies ; nor 
 was it till after some time and many efforts that 
 they finally yielded. Eventually the crows were 
 shot, and within a very few days after the death of 
 the last of them, a few pairs of rooks returned, and 
 recommenced building their nests; but, where 
 there were formerly fifty or sixty nests, only five 
 or six are new to be seen; and probably some- 
 time may pass before they will gain sufficient con- 
 fidence to return in full force. 
 
 There is one question about which much differ- 
 ence of opinion has existed. Are rooks useful or 
 injurious to the husbandman? Doubtless they 
 are guilty of some pilfering. The great damage 
 done by them is to newly-sown barley, which 
 they dig up to feed their young with, as well as 
 themselves; and when hard-pressed by hunger 
 they will pillage the soft young potatoes and
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 117 
 
 cabbages, and even attack the turnips. On the 
 other hand, the amount of grubs and other enemies 
 to the growing crops which they destroy, is really 
 enormous. On the whole the verdict seems to be 
 decidedly in their favour; and it is generally 
 decided that "the rook must be reckoned among 
 the farmer's best friends ; and, in proportion as 
 a knowledge of insect-foes increases, so much the 
 more will he rise in our estimation." Indepen- 
 dently, too, of the good services which these birds 
 render, how pleasant is the regularity with which 
 they carry on their movements to and fro, day by 
 day ; early in the morning wending their way to 
 the fields, and at night returning in gathering 
 flocks, with pleasant cawings, to their roosts ; and 
 their happy noises and busy flutterings as they 
 tend their young in the nesting season, their 
 early rising, their constant labour, and the order 
 and police which they maintain at that time, are 
 all very curious. The cawing and bustle begin 
 at the greyest dawn, and most industrious is the 
 man who can get to his work before the rook. "Ask 
 the beasts, and they shall tell ; the birds, and 
 they shall instruct thee." It is good at this season 
 to be near a rookery. There is no dozing ; they 
 will not allow you to " lose thought*' in bed. You 
 cannot sleep : you must rise, or suffer for it. But 
 at night they disturb you not. " Early to bed
 
 118 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and early to rise" is tho rook's motto. The rooks 
 seldom begin to build in good earnest before the 
 first week in March. The whole business of 
 nidification takes two months, of which about 
 five weeks are taken up in building and hatching, 
 and the remaining three devoted to feeding and 
 rearing the young till able to leave the nest. 
 
 Bishop Stanley gives a very pleasing anecdote 
 of these birds. It shows a power of discrimi- 
 nating individuals which is remarkable, and 
 it also lets us into the secret of winning the affec- 
 tion of the lower animals. Clearly, they are 
 sensitive to kindness, and capable of returning it. 
 A farmer rented a farm in Essex, on which he had 
 not long resided before a number of rooks came 
 and built their nests upon the trees immediately 
 surrounding the premises ; and multiplied so much 
 in the course of three or four years as to form a 
 considerable rookery, which he much prized. 
 About this time, however, he was induced to take 
 a larger farm ; and this obliged him to change his 
 residence and forsake his rooks. To his great 
 surprise and pleasure the whole rookery mani- 
 fested such an attachment towards him, as to 
 desert their former habitation and to accompany 
 him to his new abode, which was about three- 
 quarters of a mile off; and there they have con- 
 tinued to flourish ever since. It should be added
 
 PERCHING BIKDS. 119 
 
 that this person was strongly attached to all 
 animals whatever, and that he constantly 
 received a striking return of affection, even from 
 the least docile of them. 
 
 A most extraordinary instance of personal at- 
 tachment in one of these birds is recorded by 
 Col. Maxwell in his " Wanderings in the High- 
 lands." He seems to have had much experience 
 of animal attachment, both in bird and beast, and, 
 when a boy, had a raven which followed him about 
 like a setter, was inconsolable when he went to 
 school, and overjoyed on his return. But he 
 declares that the most remarkable instance ot 
 feathered love for man, which ever came under his 
 notice, was that of a common rook. 
 
 In a little village near Berwick there was a 
 small public-house called ' The Ship,' the land- 
 lady of which one day saw some boys in the 
 street torturing a poor rook, which they had tied 
 by the leg to a stick, and were about to stone to 
 death. She humanely interposed and saved the 
 bird from the hands of its persecutors. " Jim 
 Crow," for that was the name given him by his 
 new protectors, soon became very tame, attaching 
 himself in a most surpassing degree to the land- 
 lord. He watched for his master in the morning 
 and followed him through the day, was always 
 at his elbow when he dined, and made himself
 
 120 BKITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 very useful in gathering the scores during the 
 convivial meetings which sometimes met in the 
 evening at 'The Ship.' If there were a dozen 
 persons present, Jim Crow would hop regularly 
 round, omitting no one, and receiving the score 
 from each respectively, pouch the money beneath 
 his tongue, return to his master, insert his black 
 and homy bill into the clenched hand of mine 
 host, and honestly deposit there every coin he had 
 collected. 
 
 It might have been imagined the poor bird 
 could reason. The communication over the 
 Tweed, between Spital and Berwick, is kept up 
 by small steamers which cross the river repeatedly 
 during the hour. If his master were missing, 
 Jim Crow would fly down to the pier in order to 
 ascertain if he were on board ; and in that event 
 the rook would cross the river, and, no matter 
 where his owner went, he would be found flying 
 by his side, or settled on his shoulder. It 
 required no little ingenuity on the part of his 
 master to blink this personal attendance of his 
 devoted follower and companion. If he succeeded 
 occasionally, by suddenly turning a corner or 
 getting down an entry, the bird would fly up and 
 down the street, look anxiously around, and if he 
 could pop upon his lost proprietor his joy was 
 unbounded, and, lest another separation should
 
 PERCHING BIIIDS. 121 
 
 occur, he would stick to him for the remainder of 
 the day, as closely as his own shadow. If, however, 
 Mr. W. managed to get clear off, after a sharp 
 search the baffled Jim would wing his way across 
 the Tweed, return home, and there anxiously await 
 the return of the runagate. 
 
 The first movement in the landlord's chamber 
 of a morning the first cough or creak of the 
 shoe which announced that his master was astir, 
 was hailed by this singular bird with loud and 
 exultant cawings. The landlord was a wag, and, 
 sometimes opening his room-door, he would re- 
 monstrate with his noisy favourite, saying, " What 
 are ye at, mon? Hauld ye're tongue, or ye'll 
 wauken the bairns !" In a moment the loud and 
 clamorous caw was exchanged to one so piano 
 and subdued, that a skilful artiste could not have 
 made the descending scale more rapidly and suc- 
 cessfully. The arrival of the barber to perform 
 his office was a signal for the temporary confine- 
 ment of Jim Crow, as the bird always attacked 
 furiously any person who he imagined was 
 assailing his master, and, as if he knew that a 
 razor was a dangerous instrument, he testified 
 such enmity to the shaver that it was found neces- 
 sary to secure him in another room while the 
 barber was performing his office. 
 
 The end of poor Jim Crow was a tragical one.
 
 122 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 In an evil day he wandered from his usual 
 domain, and settled down upon a garden fence in 
 front of the shop of a tailor, who was stupid and 
 cruel enough to kill the poor bird. 
 
 To return to the crow, which may be considered 
 as a raven of small size, resembling it in all except 
 its bulk. This bird is found throughout England, 
 frequenting the sea-coast in some parts. In those 
 places where large flocks of sheep are kept, it is a 
 dangerous enemy, destroying weak lambs, as well 
 as other small animals, game, and poultry. On the 
 coast it picks the soft parts of dead fish, or eats 
 such refuse as it can find. Like the raven and 
 other birds of the family it conceals superfluous 
 food. Col. Montagu observed two crows by the 
 sea-shore, busy in removing small fish beyond the 
 flax of the flowing tide, and depositing them just 
 above high-water mark, when they had satisfied 
 the cravings of hunger. The male feeds his mate 
 while she remains on the nest, and both defend 
 their young with great courage against birds much 
 larger than themselves. 
 
 There is an intermediate link, seen in some 
 parts of England, between the carrion crow and 
 the rook, namely the HOODED, or ROYSTON CROW. 
 This bird is said to be even more mischievous 
 than the carrion. So destructive are they to young 
 animals, eggs, and poultry in the Orkney and
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 123 
 
 Shetland islands, where they are numerous, that 
 up to so late a period as 1835, a reward of two- 
 pence a crow, was paid by the local authorities ; 
 in consequence of which many were annually de- 
 stroyed. They are clever birds, and when fre- 
 quenting the shore in search of fish, may fre- 
 quently be seen, after vain attempts to break 
 through the hard shell of a cockle or mussel, to 
 seize it in their bill, mount with it to a great 
 height, and then let it fall on a hard rock, by 
 which means it is broken, and the bird has only 
 to reap the benefit of his contrivance. Dr. 
 Fleming, in his "Philosophy of Zoology," con- 
 siders instinct, in this degree, as bordering closely 
 upon intelligence, as implying a notion of power 
 and also of cause and effect. 
 
 In the southern parts of England the hooded 
 crow is only a winter visitor, but in the north it is 
 resident throughout the year. On the first appear- 
 ance of those birds in this country they frequent sea 
 marshes, and the banks of tide rivers, inhabiting 
 both sides of the Thames as high up as within a 
 few miles of London, and when inland they visit 
 the open downs and plains. The head, wings, and 
 tail are a shiny bluish black, the rest of the 
 plumage smoke grey. 
 
 Placed among the crows, but more nearly re- 
 sembling the jackdaw and starling in manners
 
 124 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and colour, is the RED-LEGGED CROW, or CHOUGH, 
 never seen in most parts of our island, though in 
 its favourite haunts often veiy abundant. It is al- 
 most exclusively confined to the sea-coast, where it 
 inhabits the highest and most inaccessible por- 
 tion of rocks or cliffs, about which it walks 
 securely by means of its strong legs, toes, and 
 claws. The plumage is uniformly black, glossed 
 with blue, the beak and legs vermilion red, the 
 claws shining black. It is easily distinguished 
 from the true crows by the form of the beak, 
 which is bent downwards. 
 
 At the southern end of the Isle of Man these 
 birds build in security. In Cornwall, they are 
 also found, and an old writer of the fifteenth cen- 
 tury says the Cornish chough was so great a 
 favourite in those days, that some of the most 
 ancient families bore these birds in their coat 
 armour. But the locality assigned them by 
 poetical authority is the celebrated cliff which 
 now bears the name of the master-poet, Shake- 
 speare ; he says, in reference to its height 
 
 " The crows and choughs that wing the midway air 
 Show scarce so gross as beetles." 
 
 Like jackdaws, the choughs are easily tamed, 
 and make amusing pets. Col. Montagu kept a 
 bird some years in his garden. It was never
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 125 
 
 observed to go upon tlie grass by choice, always 
 preferring the gravel walks. Its habits are thus 
 described by its owner. 
 
 " His curiosity is beyond bounds, and he never 
 fails to examine anything new to him. If the 
 gardener is pruning he examines the nail-box, 
 carries off the nails, and scatters the shreds about. 
 Should a ladder be left against the wall, he 
 instantly mounts and goes all round the top of the 
 wall ; and, if hungry, descends at a convenient 
 place, and immediately betakes himself to the 
 kitchen window, at which he makes an incessant 
 knocking till he is either fed or let in. If allowed 
 to enter, his first endeavour is to get upstairs, 
 and, if not interrupted, he goes as high as he can, 
 and gets into the attic story; but his intention 
 is to get upon the top of the house. He is exces- 
 sively fond of being caressed, and would stand 
 quietly an hour to be coaxed, but resents an 
 affront with both bill and claws, and will hold on 
 so fast by the latter that he is with difficulty dis- 
 engaged. He is extraordinarily attached to one 
 lady, upon the back of whose chair he will sit for 
 hours ; and is particularly fond of making one at 
 a breakfast party, or, on a summer's evening, at 
 the tea-table in the shrubbery. His natural food 
 is, evidently, the smallest insects ; even the minute 
 species he picks out of the crevices of the walls,
 
 126 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 and searches for them in summer with great dili- 
 gence. Worms are wholly rejected ; but flesh, 
 raw or dressed, he eats greedily, and sometimes 
 barley, with the pheasants, and other granivorous 
 birds, occasionally turned into the gardens, and 
 never refuses hemp-seed. He seldom attempts 
 to hide the remainder of a meal. With a consider- 
 able degree of attachment he is naturally pugna- 
 cious, and resents an attempt to take him up, even 
 by the hand that has just before fed and caressed 
 him. To children he has an utter aversion, and 
 will scarcely suffer them to enter the garden. 
 Even strangers, of any age, are attacked voci- 
 ferously, and he approaches all with daring impu- 
 dence." 
 
 The JACKDAW is known to everybody. It is a 
 gregarious bird, and frequently flocks together 
 with rooks, feeding in the same way on grain 
 and insects. It frequents old towers, ruined 
 buildings, and high cliffs, where it builds, as well 
 as in holes of trees ; and it occasions great trouble 
 to housewives in the country, by building down 
 chimneys, which it frequently stops quite up, so 
 as to fill the whole house with smoke, when an 
 attempt is made to light the fire. It is active, 
 noisy, and familiar almost to impudence, and 
 lively, justifying the inquiry of some one, " Who- 
 ever saw a moping jackdaw ?"
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 127 
 
 There is a curiousaccount,in London's "Magazine 
 of Natural History," for 1833, of the habits of the 
 jackdaws which at one time inhabited, somewhat 
 numerously, the college buildings at Cambridge. 
 In the Botanic Garden of that town there were 
 wooden labels placed before the plants, whose 
 names they bore, made of deal lathes, about nine 
 inches long, and an inch or more broad. As they 
 were thin, these labels, when dry, were pretty 
 light, and the jackdaws speedily discovered that 
 they might serve the same purpose as twiggy 
 sticks off trees, and that they had the great con- 
 venience of being prepared ready for use, and 
 placed very near home. Accordingly, they helped 
 themselves freely, whenever they could do so un- 
 observed ; and they selected the early mornings, 
 before the gardeners came to work, and occasion- 
 ally would venture to perpetrate a theft during 
 the working hours, when they observed the men 
 occupied in a particular part of the garden away 
 from the flower-beds. They also took advantage 
 of the hours for meals, when the coast was left 
 free to them. Their mode of proceeding was 
 thus : the bird would grasp a label edgewise in 
 its beak, and draw it out of the soil. Usually this 
 was accomplished without much trouble; but, 
 when more deeply infixed, it would pull the 
 label first to one side then to the other, until it
 
 128 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 succeeded, or would become weary, and leave it. 
 It next proceeded to balance the label in its bill, 
 letting it fall and picking it up again, until it 
 had ascertained the place at which it could be 
 held in equilibrium, when it flew off with it. 
 The number of labels thus annually removed is 
 supposed to have been very considerable, persons 
 who had ascended the tower of Great St. Mary's 
 church, and other towers and steeples, having 
 repeatedly observed wooden labels bearing botan- 
 ical inscriptions, in great numbers lying about m 
 these places. A chimney in one of the professor's 
 houses having been stopped up, the jackdaws 
 built in the upper part of it, and the man-servant, 
 on one occasion, actually took eighteen dozen of 
 the said deal labels from the chimney-shaft.
 
 129 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE JAY Its powers of imitation The sportsman and the 
 jays The jay and the cat and kittens The MAGPIE Its 
 sagacity Superstitions respecting this bird Two anec- 
 dotes of tame magpies The nest of the magpie The 
 STABLING Congregates in large numbers Account of a 
 flock of starlings Starlings, rooks, and jackdaws very 
 friendly The ROSE-COLOURED PASTOR Its beauty and 
 habits. 
 
 THE JAY is a beautiful bird ; but though showy to 
 the eye, it is more frequently heard than seen, for 
 it is very shy and cautious. It frequents groves, 
 plantations, and woods ; and even in its native 
 state, is much given to imitation ; being very 
 adroit at bleating, screaming, and neighing ; in 
 short, mocking all the harsher sounds. Its own 
 common note is harsh and unpleasant, but its 
 love-song is very soft, and is so low, and appa- 
 rently cautious, that it seems whispering to its 
 mate, as if to keep their affection and cares secret 
 from the other tenants of the grove. It is rarely 
 seen in the open country, except when its favourite 
 fruit, the cherries, are ripe. The chief food of the 
 jay is the acorn ; but it also eats other birds' eggs 
 
 K
 
 130 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 iii spring, as do all the crows, jays, and magpies, 
 to some extent. 
 
 Young jays are easily brought up from the nest, 
 and soon become very tame. In confinement they 
 appear to prefer meat to any other kind of food. 
 They are very amusing, from the ease with which 
 they imitate almost any sound they are accustomed 
 to hear. These imitations are so exact as to 
 deceive not only men but animals. I was once 
 visiting in a house where there was a jay, who 
 entertained us highly with the tricks he played 
 on an unfortunate cat with a litter of young 
 kittens. !No sooner had poor puss, after perform- 
 ing her maternal duties, left her charge and 
 retired for a short time to rest and refresh herself, 
 than the mischievous jay would commence a 
 piteous outcry, in exact imitation of the cries of a 
 family of kittens, in the last extremity of distress. 
 In a few seconds, the anxious mother would rush 
 in from the garden, or bolt down the stairs, from 
 some upper room, full of eager alarm. On reach- 
 ing the basket, and finding her progeny sleeping 
 in sweet security, she would turn round, with an 
 air of vexation, and retire slowly ; the jay, with 
 his head knowingly set sideways, and his eye 
 keenly watching her, probably meditating a re- 
 newal of the fun so soon as occasion should 
 serve.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 131 
 
 A curious incident once happened to a sports- 
 man, who, going into a copse to shoot ring-doves, 
 and seeing something high up on a branch, fired ; 
 when down fell a lump, apparently of old rags, 
 which proved to be a number of jays. As soon as 
 they touched the ground, none being mortally 
 wounded, the cluster separated, each bird flying 
 away in a different direction, with most vociferous 
 chatterings. The weather was very severe, and 
 they had evidently huddled together, in that odd 
 way for warmth. 
 
 Like the jay, the MAGPIE is a clever and shy 
 bird ; very keen to perceive danger, and very 
 acute in shunning it. It is quite proverbial how 
 magpies and jays know Sunday from week-days, 
 and will allow any one to come much nearer to 
 them on that day, evidently feeling secure. This 
 fact is noticed by a writer in " The Zoologist, for 
 1851." He says : " Where I reside (Stroud) the 
 jays visit my shrubberies, and when I go there on 
 a week-day, they immediately give out their note 
 of alarm ' skay, skay !' but, strange to say, on 
 several Sundays, I have approached them at a 
 quarter of the distance, and they would fly out 
 without any cry of alarm." 
 
 The magpie is a great enemy to young black- 
 birds, and also destroys eggs of all sorts, which 
 propensities have procured it a bad name ; and, in
 
 132 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 this country, it is doomed to destruction by every 
 one who carries a gun. But for its sagacity, 
 which is eminently evinced in its self-preserva- 
 tion, it would be a rare bird. It has certain 
 habits which have attracted the attention of the 
 ignorant and superstitious, who look on it as a 
 bird of ill-omen, prognosticating by its appear- 
 ance the approach of death. It is, in fact, one of 
 the most susceptible of the feathered tribes, and, 
 if carefully watched, would be found an excellent 
 guide as to weather, and might be consulted with 
 advantage touching the heat, the moisture, and 
 the general state of the atmosphere. 
 
 Mr. Yarrell says the magpie did not formerly 
 exist in Ireland, and that it was only in the reign 
 of Queen Anne that the bird began to spread 
 generally over the kingdom that is, at the same 
 time as the introduction of frogs ; and these crea- 
 tures are sometimes spoken of traditionally as 
 having made their appearance together. Now, 
 there is no part of the world in which they both 
 thrive better than in Ireland. In France, the 
 magpie is one of the few birds that nobody seems 
 to molest, and it is, accordingly, very common 
 there. It is also regarded with peculiar favour 
 both in Norway and Sweden. 
 
 There are many pleasing stories told of these 
 birds. The two following are of recent date :
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 133 
 
 A favourite magpie had been accustomed to 
 receive dainty bits from the mouth of its mistress. 
 One day it perched as usual upon her shoulder, 
 and inserted its beak between her lips, not, as it 
 proved, to receive, but (as one good turn deserves 
 another) the grateful bird dropped an immense 
 green fat caterpillar into the lady's mouth. 
 
 The sagacity often exhibited by them, when 
 tamed, is very surprising. A favourite magpie 
 was in the habit of occasionally hiding any food 
 he did not immediately want in some long grass, 
 at the bottom of a row of iron hurdles. This 
 hoard was discovered, and often robbed, by a 
 favourite terrier. One morning mag was observed 
 in great excitement, hopping and chattering in- 
 cessantly, rapidly repeating every word in his 
 vocabulary at the dog, who was busily engaged in 
 rifling the store-house. In his search, however, 
 he passed over a tuft of grass, in which a piece of 
 beef was concealed ; mag was at the spot in an 
 instant, drew forth the treasure, and securely fixed 
 it on the highest bar of the hurdles, far above the 
 dog's reach. He then, at a little distance, began 
 pluming his feathers, chattering to himself, with a 
 very self-satisfied air, and occasionally hopping 
 back to take another look at his recovered meal ; 
 evidently priding himself on his skill. 
 
 The nest ot the magpie deserves notice. It is
 
 134 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 well constructed for defence against enemies ; being 
 of an oval shape, and large ; framed on the outside 
 with sharp, thorny sticks, strongly interwoven, 
 and forming a dome over the top. This frame- 
 work is plastered inside with earth, and lined with 
 fibrous roots and dry grass. One small opening is 
 left at the side, just enough to admit the parent 
 bird, which generally sits with her head to the 
 hole, ready .to escape from the nest at the slightest 
 alarm. 
 
 Few birds are more generally known than the 
 STARLING ; and as it is a familiar bird, and easily 
 tamed, its habits, in a state of captivity, have been 
 frequently observed. The evening is the time 
 when starlings flock together in greatest number, 
 and betake themselves to the fens and marshes, 
 where they roost among the reeds, to which they 
 resort in such numbers as to break down and destroy 
 whole beds. They chatter most vociferously in 
 the evening and in the morning, when they 
 assemble and disperse. 
 
 A striking account of the numbers in which 
 they are sometimes seen, is given in " The 
 Zoologist, for 1849." The writer says : " On 
 October 2nd, 1844, I noticed the most amazing 
 flock of birds that it was ever my lot to witness. 
 They were starlings. At a distance they resembled 
 some gigantic mass of cloud, slowly traversing
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 135 
 
 the heavens, and occasionally changing its form, 
 and breaking into smaller masses. It was evening, 
 and the birds had, probably, collected together to 
 roost for the night, in a large wood, over the top 
 of which they were enjoying a few moments, 
 before retiring to rest. The ease and elegance of 
 their movements, as they flew to and fro ; the firm 
 and compact manner in which they kept together 
 when moving in mass ; the peculiar facility which 
 enabled them to break the main army into num- 
 berless smaller ones, and then unite again, almost 
 instantaneously, was perfectly astonishing, and 
 equal to anything ever witnessed in the flight of 
 birds." Mr. Jesse observes that, when a flock of 
 starlings is seen from a distance, with the sun 
 reflected on their wings, they appear and disappear 
 as they turn to the left or right, according to the 
 gleams of light. 
 
 Starlings keep up a close and friendly intercourse 
 with rooks and jack-daws ; but, on looking at them 
 in the fields, it will be perceived, that while the 
 two latter mix promiscuously, both in their move- 
 ments and in searching for food, the starlings 
 always keep to their own flock. This is a secret 
 in the habits of birds which the naturalist cannot 
 fathom. These are, at all times, very lively birds ; 
 and at pairing time, when others fight, they are 
 all play and good humour. They not only
 
 136 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 associate with other birds, but imitate their cries ; 
 chattering with jack-daws, whistling with plovers, 
 and screaming with sea-fowl. 
 
 Very nearly allied to the starling is the ROSE- 
 COLOURED PASTOR, one of the handsomest of our 
 occasional British birds. Though only an acci- 
 dental visitor to this country, its beauty attracts 
 particular notice, and its capture is more regu- 
 larly recorded than that of many other equally 
 rare birds. The colours of the plumage, in the 
 male bird, are violet-black, on the head and neck; 
 the feathers on the crown of the head being elon- 
 gated, so as to form a flowing crest. The back, 
 breast, and belly, are of a delicate rose-colour. 
 This bird flies, like the starling, in flocks, and 
 in other habits and peculiarities also resembles 
 that species. It feeds about among flocks and 
 herds, (whence it was probably called Pastor ; i. e. 
 shepherd, or herdsman) and frequently mounts 
 on the back of sheep and cattle, in search of the 
 grubs which are found there. Insects appear to 
 form a principal part of its food, but it also is 
 fond of fruit, and has been often seen in gardens.
 
 137 
 
 PERCHING BIEDS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE WABBLERS Our choicest song-birds' nests The Pied 
 aad the Yellow Wagtail Account of these birds kept in 
 an aviary Anecdote of a Water- Wagtail nestling in a 
 workshop The Wrens The Eedbreast Description of 
 this bird and its nest Anecdote of a Robin and an 
 Angora cat Curious nesting-places of the Redbreast The 
 common Wren The Golden-crested Wren, and the Fire- 
 crested Wren The Nightingale Its exceeding shyness 
 Its song and migrations Isaac Walton 011 the Nightingale. 
 
 THE various divisions of the PERCHING BIRDS are, 
 at present, but imperfectly arranged ; few authors 
 agreeing in the formation of the minor groups. 
 A few of the principal characteristics, and some 
 anecdotes descriptive of the manners and habits 
 of some of the most familiarly-known species, 
 may perhaps be best adapted to the wants of 
 the young student. 
 
 The WARBLERS are a numerous race. They are 
 the choicest of our summer birds of song, whose 
 voices resound through the groves and woodlands 
 of our happy country, reminding us of the 
 Psalmist's description of the springs and valleys 
 where " the fowls of heaven have their habitation, 
 which sing among the branches," and " the birds
 
 138 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 make their nests."* The Psalmist was an accurate 
 observer. It is, undoubtedly, in the season of 
 reproduction, when the birds are busy with their 
 nests and young broods that their melodious songs 
 are heard, " amid the branches ;" then it is that, 
 
 " Our isle is full of pleasant noises, 
 Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight." 
 
 About ten weeks have been mentioned as the 
 period during which most of our wild birds sing. 
 Few spots are more musical with song-birds than 
 these islands. Not, indeed, that the woods of 
 America are mute ; but they have not the varied 
 brilliancy of our choristers. 
 
 It is among the perching birds that our songsters 
 abound ; and they, too, excel in the beautiful struc- 
 ture of their nests. Great as is the skill of insects 
 in architecture, it attains, if possible, a higher 
 degree of perfection in birds, the great majority 
 of which build the most artistical nests, selecting 
 situations according to their habits, either on 
 the ground, in shrubs, or trees, or on rocks and 
 buildings. ]l is a received opinion with many, 
 that the more perfect the nature of the bird the 
 higher from the ground is the nest constructed; 
 but this rule will certainly not apply to the 
 powers of melody ; since the nightingale and 
 the lark build either on, or near to, the ground. 
 
 Psa. civ.
 
 1. PIED WAGTAIL. 2. WBEN. 3. NIGHTINGALE. 4. REED WEEN.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 141 
 
 Where all are wonderful, it seerns almost invi- 
 dious to select examples ; but I will mention the 
 nests of two of our native birds the LONGTAILED 
 TITMOUSE and the SWALLOW. 
 
 The former builds a singularly curious and 
 elegant nest, of a long oval form, with a small 
 hole in the side, near the top, as an entrance; 
 the outside is formed of moss, woven or matted 
 together with the silken shrouds or cocoons of 
 insects, and covered all over with the tree and 
 stone lichens, fixed with fine threads of the same 
 silken material. From this thatch the rain trickles 
 off without penetrating, while, from its similarity 
 in colour and appearance to the bark of the branch, 
 or the foliage of the shrub on which it is placed, it 
 is not easily discovered. The inside is thickly lined 
 with a profusion of feathers, the soft webs of which 
 are laid inwards, with the quills or points stuck 
 into the outside fabric. 
 
 As for the SWALLOW, its mode of operation is 
 entirely dissimilar from all others. The crust, or 
 shell of its nest seems to be formed of such mud 
 or loam as comes most readily to hand, tempered 
 and wrought together with little bits of broken 
 straws, to render it tough and tenacious ; and that 
 the work may not, while it is soft and yielding, 
 pull itself down by its own weight, the bird has 
 prudence and judgment enough not to advance
 
 142 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 its construction too fast. About half-an-inch seems 
 to be a sufficient layer for a day; and thus, in 
 about ten or eleven days, a hemispheric, or globe- 
 like nest is formed, with a small aperture towards 
 the top ; compact and warm, and perfectly adapted 
 to its purposes. The crust or shell, is a sort of 
 rustic work, full of nobs and protuberances on 
 the outside; but the inside is smoothed with 
 more care, and, in some instances, has even a 
 glazed appearance.* 
 
 A volume might be filled on the subject of 
 birds' nests, they are so wonderful. The follow- 
 ing pretty lines by Mr. Pennant, will please the 
 reader. 
 
 " Behold a bird's nest, 
 Mark it well, within, without. 
 No tool had he that wrought ; no knife to cut, 
 No nail to fix, no bodkin to insert, 
 No glue to join ; his little beak was all. 
 And yet how nicely finish'd ! What neat hand 
 With every implement and means of art 
 Could compass such another ?" 
 
 It is certainly, in the construction of their nests 
 that birds display the most striking and varied 
 indications of contrivance; and often they have 
 recourse to means which would do credit to a 
 reasoning being. A pair of goldfinches had built 
 their nest on a small branch of an olive-tree. 
 * Thompson.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 143 
 
 After hatching the brood, the parents perceived 
 hat the weight of the growing family would 
 soon be too great for the strength of the branch 
 which supported the nest ; in fact, it was begin- 
 ning to give way. Something must be done, 
 or the nest would fall. This was evident to 
 beholders, and equally so to the goldfinches ; 
 accordingly, they were seen to fasten, by a small 
 string they had picked up, the bending twig to 
 a higher and stronger branch of the tree, and, 
 by this contrivance their nest was saved. 
 
 Some birds,* which use the same nest for a 
 succession of years, regularly repair them, carry- 
 ing up sticks and sods, etc., for the purpose of 
 enabling them to stand the violence of the winter 
 storms; a mode of proceeding which appears to 
 indicate a remarkable degree of forethought or 
 prospective contrivance. 
 
 Among the warblers may be ranked the wag- 
 tails, the wrens, the chats, and the pipits. Of 
 the true warblers, the well-known prince is the 
 nightingale. 
 
 The WAGTAILS get their name from the remark- 
 able rapid, and almost incessant, motion of their 
 tails. These birds all either leave this country 
 in winter, or remove to different places in it. 
 
 * e. g. Rooks and the Fishing Hawk of America, etc.
 
 144 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 They frequent the margins of waters, clear springs 
 and pools, in retired places, and they build their 
 nests mostly under stones or in holes near the 
 banks, and feed chiefly on aquatic insects and 
 worms. They move with alacrity and glee, every 
 now and then dipping the head, and anon recover- 
 ing their balance by the peculiar motion of the tail. 
 There are four British species, of which the 
 PIED and the YELLOW WAGTAIL are the most com- 
 mon. The former, with its variegated plumage 
 of black and white, is deservedly admired for 
 its elegance, activity, and airy lightness, and is 
 exceedingly common over the whole of the United 
 Kingdom, being resident in the southern parts, 
 throughout the year. A gentleman who kept a 
 variety of these birds, in a large aviary, writing 
 to Mr. Yarrell, says, " During the summer and 
 autumn of 1837, I had several wagtails; the 
 pied and the yellow, both of which were very 
 expert in catching and feeding on minnows, which 
 were in a fountain in the centre of the aviaiy. 
 The birds hover over the water, and as they skim 
 the surface, catch the minnow when it approaches 
 to the top of the water in the most dexterous 
 manner. I was much surprised at the wariness 
 and cunning of some blackbirds and thrushes in 
 watching the wagtails thus engaged, and imme- 
 diately seizing the prize for their own dinner."
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 145 
 
 A curious anecdote is told in " Jesse's Gleanings 
 of Katural History," of a water- wagtail, which 
 built her nest in the workshop of a manufactory, 
 within a foot of the wheel of a lathe, in the midst 
 of the din of hammers and workmen. There un- 
 molested, and unconcerned, she hatched four young 
 ones. The cock-bird, not seeming to approve such 
 company, instead of feeding the nestlings himself, 
 as is usual, carried the food he had collected to a 
 certain spot on the roof, where he left it for the 
 mother to convey to her young. It is remarkable 
 that she was quite familiar with the men who 
 regularly worked in the shop, but would instantly 
 quit her nest if a stranger came into the room, or, 
 if away, would not return till he was gone, when 
 she lost no time in resuming her place. 
 
 In the family of WRENS we may include the red- 
 breast, the common wren, and the golden and fire- 
 crested wrens. It is not a little remarkable that 
 there is more similarity between the common 
 wren and the redbreast, than between it and the 
 birds commonly called wrens. So much so, indeed, 
 that the popular opinion (which in these cases is 
 usually founded upon observation,) has, time out 
 of mind, associated robin redbreast and kitty wren 
 as husband and wife. 
 
 The REDBREAST is, however, more really a 
 
 L
 
 146 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 warbler than the wren, and connects the warblers 
 with the chats. This well-known favourite as- 
 sociates more familiarly than almost any other 
 bird with men ; yet it is, really, a native of the 
 woods. It is unnecessary to describe a bird so 
 universally known. Not only is it a most enter- 
 taining little creature, but it is also exceedingly 
 useful, capturing myriads of insects and worms, 
 and destroying the eggs of flies and caterpillars. 
 The manner of approaching its prey, when on the 
 ground, is by very light and rapid hops ; and 
 when the bird has got within its distance, it 
 pounces upon the object with great certainty. 
 
 The song of the robin is sweet and plaintive ; 
 but not very powerful. It is said that the differ- 
 ent changes of its strain indicate the varying 
 states of the weather ; and that, when the bird 
 perches high, and sings cheerfully, it is an uner- 
 ring promise of fine weather. The sprightly 
 manner, full dark eye, and sidelong turn of the 
 head in this bird give it an air of sagacity and 
 inquisitiveness, which, together with its con- 
 fidence, has gained it friends. With many re- 
 deeming qualities, however, the robin is one of 
 the most pugnacious of birds, and maintains his 
 right to his own " beat " against all intruders. 
 The nest is frequently placed on a bank, in a hole 
 of a wall, or by the roots of trees, and in concealed
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 147 
 
 places. If there be not a natural concealment of 
 foliage tlie birds contrive to form an artificial one 
 of dry leaves ; and when the female leaves her 
 eggs, she sometimes covers them in the same 
 manner ; so that the strewing of leaves, mentioned 
 in the old ballad of " Babes in the Wood," is true 
 to the habits of the robin. 
 
 These birds show great attachment to their 
 young, and are bold in their efforts to thwart any 
 intruder on their nest. An instance has presented 
 itself to my notice while I am writing these pages. 
 Our garden robin has evidently chosen for his 
 nesting-place a thick clump of ivy, that hangs 
 over the wall, and partly covers the roof of an 
 out house. The other morning my attention was 
 arrested by a loud wailing cry, accompanied with 
 angry twitterings, which was recognised as the 
 voice of robin in distress. On looking out of the 
 window the cause of his trouble was soon dis- 
 covered ; for, on the roof, basking in the sun, lay 
 our splendid Angora cat, within a very short dis- 
 tance of the clump of ivy. On the edge of the roof 
 was the agonized bird, twittering, hopping, and 
 incessantly jerking his body up and down, with 
 earnest haste, as though panting with eagerness, 
 and about to pounce upon the cat, whom he con- 
 tinued to mob ; and, by degrees, emboldened by 
 the utter nonchalance of his enemy, he hopped
 
 148 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 nearer and nearer, till within an arm's reach of the 
 foe, still continuing his clamorous outcry. This 
 curious scene lasted for an hour or more, till at 
 length puss, disliking the noise, or tired of roast- 
 ing himself on the hot tiles, retreated in-doors, 
 leaving the poor little courageous bird at peace. 
 
 Like some other birds, the redbreast is remark- 
 able for the peculiarity of the places in which it 
 sometimes builds its nest ; often within the habita- 
 tions of man. A window curtain, a book-shelf, a 
 cornice, a reading-desk, have all been chosen by 
 our confiding little friend, and even a child's 
 covered-cart. In all these instances the birds 
 reared, tended, and brought off their broods, quite 
 regardless of the presence of persons in the rooms 
 into which they had intruded. 
 
 The COMMON WREN, is abundant in all parts ot 
 the country, remaining with us the whole year. 
 Considering the diminutive size of the bird, its 
 song is clear and loud, so that one is surprised at 
 its proceeding from so tiny a musician. It is very 
 small, and its form is short and dumpy. It carries 
 its tail, which, though short, is very strong for 
 the size of the bird, in a nearly erect posture. 
 That structure of tail enables it to balance itself, 
 so that it can drop down (its most important 
 motion) with great agility. Among our small 
 birds there is scarcely one better known or more
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 149 
 
 privileged than the little wren, frequenting gar- 
 dens- close to our houses, and creeping, mouse-like, 
 through hedges and underwood. The numerous 
 progeny of the wren is proverbial, and it brings 
 off two broods in the season. 
 
 The GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN, is the smallest of 
 British birds ; but it is one of the most active, and 
 endures the winter better than many larger birds. 
 It is found in all wooded parts of the country ; fir 
 woods, however, are its favourite haunts. Both this 
 and the FIRE- CRESTED WREN, which, nearly resembles 
 it, and which is only a very accidental visitor to 
 Great Britain, are so minute, that, hidden as they 
 are among the branches, and shifting and whisking 
 about with meteor-like rapidity, it is no easy 
 matter to see them. The best way to study them is 
 by the aid of a small pocket-telescope, which no one 
 who observes the smaller birds should be with- 
 out, as they can thus be watched without alarm 01 
 disturbance. The young naturalist, when he goes 
 to the wood or coppice, should be thus furnished ; 
 there is ample room for fresh discoveries; and 
 observations perseveringly and accurately taken 
 will be sure not to go without reward. 
 
 Of all the warblers the NIGHTINGALE bears, be- 
 yond dispute, the pre-eminence. It is acknow- 
 ledged to possess, in a higher degree than any
 
 150 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 other of our British birds the necessary requisites 
 of a first-rate songster ; its voice being unrivalled 
 in volume, quality, and execution. With its 
 music we are all acquainted ; but its habits are so 
 concealed, its disposition so retiring, that it is very 
 little we can learn about it in a state of nature. 
 An accurate observer says, " I watched them very 
 carefully for more than five years, in a place 
 where these birds are very abundant ; and at the 
 end of that time I was about as wise as at the 
 beginning." 
 
 The nightingale is first heard about the middle 
 or end of April ; its song continues till the first or 
 second week in June. The birds taken in the 
 county of Surrey are said to possess the finest 
 quality of song. Its favourite haunts are woods, 
 plantations, and hedgerows. In the midland coun- 
 ties it is scarce ; in the northern, but occasionally 
 heard ; and in the western, namely, Devonshire 
 and Cornwall, almost unknown. It is not fcmnd at 
 all in the north of Great Britain, although it visits 
 the more temperate parts of Kussia, and some parts 
 of Siberia. The migration of nightingales, like 
 all other regular migrations, is from north to south 
 in autumn, and back again in spring ; an Englihh 
 nightingale would, probably, go to Morocco; a 
 Russian nightingale to Egypt. 
 
 That ardent lover of nature Isaac Walton has
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 151 
 
 said, "He that at midnight, when the very la- 
 bourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I have very 
 often done, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the 
 natural rising and falling, the doubling and re- 
 doubling of its voice, might well be lifted above 
 the earth, and say, ' Lord, what music hast thou 
 provided for the saints in heaven, when thou 
 affordest bad men such music on earth ?' "
 
 152 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE TRITE WABBLEBS. The Two most common of these 
 birds, the Sedge Warbler, and the Reed Warbler TEE 
 SYLVAN WAEBLEES The Redstart The Common White- 
 throat Anecdote of the Whitethroat and the Nightingale 
 The Blackcap Warbler Beauty of its song The tame 
 Blackcap The Greater Pettychaps, or Garden Warbler 
 The Lesser Pettychaps, or Chift'chaff The smallest of its 
 kind The tame Chiffchaff The Wood Warbler, and the 
 Willow-Warbler. 
 
 OF those interesting little birds the TRUE WARBLERS 
 there are several species, more or less common. 
 They are different in appearance, according to 
 the haunts in which they are found, but there 
 seems a general likeness among them. They are 
 delicate in form and plumage ; and subdued rather 
 than strongly marked in colouring. Their whole 
 expression is soft, but not dull ; and their manners, 
 though gentle, are rather sprightly. Though they 
 are not all song-birds, they comprise the finest of 
 our songsters, and their notes run more on the 
 minor keys than those of any other birds. 
 
 All the warblers love shade and shelter; some 
 in the grove, others in the coppice ; and some by 
 the reedy pool. But they are less found in the 
 wide waste of the forest. They are summer so-
 
 1- RBDBBEAST. 2. GOLD CREST. 3. MEADOW PIPIT. 4. WHBATEAR.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 155 
 
 journers, coming from afar, having left us during 
 the winter, driven away by the inclemency of 
 our skies, and returning in the genial season 
 to cheer us with their songs. 
 
 Among them, there are four British aquatic spe- 
 cies. The two commonest are the SEDGE and the REED 
 WARBLER. Of these the reed warbler, or reed wren, 
 is well known, with its elegant and singularly-built 
 nest, interwoven among the reeds, and fastened to 
 their flexible twigs ; and so well-united and firmly 
 fixed, that it can bear to be rocked upon its bend- 
 ing supports. 
 
 Of the SYLVAN WARBLERS, there are about ten or 
 eleven. Besides the nightingale, already men- 
 tioned, which stands first, the redstart, the com- 
 mon and lesser whitethroat, the blackcap, the 
 garden warbler and chiff-chaff, and the wood and 
 willow warblers, are the principal ; and there are, 
 moreover, two or three rare kinds. 
 
 The REDSTART is common in most parts of the 
 kingdom, and frequents gardens and woods. It 
 has a way of rapidly expanding and closing the 
 tail, and this action is continued for several 
 seconds, on its alighting. It is an elegant little 
 creature, with its black, white, gray and flame 
 colours, and its graceful 'form and lively motions, 
 It bears a slight general resemblance to the red-
 
 156 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 breast, but it is longer in the body, and much 
 more slender. Its favourite resting-places are 
 deserted walls and old houses, and ruins, covered 
 with ivy. Its song is sweet and plaintive, some- 
 thing like that of the nightingale, supposing it 
 to be given in music-box style. It is, also, an 
 imitator of the notes of other birds. The food of 
 the redstart is insects. It arrives here in April, 
 and leaves towards the end of September. 
 
 The COMMON WHITETHROAT is the best known, 
 most numerous, and most generally distributed 
 of the warblers. It comes about the third week 
 in April, and frequents the sides of woods, thickets, 
 hedgerows, and grassy lanes ; particularly when 
 overgrown with weeds and brambles. Hence it 
 is sometimes called the nettle creeper. These 
 birds are active and shy, and easily alarmed, 
 immediately retreating beneath the cover of the 
 tangled masses of foliage they haunt. Their food 
 consists of insects, in their various states, particu- 
 larly white caterpillars, and of the smaller fruits 
 and berries, in search of which they visit kitchen 
 gardens. Some of the notes of the whitethroat 
 are rather harsh, others pleasing, but he always 
 sings in good earnest, erecting his crest, puffing 
 out his throat, and jerking his tail, with much 
 animation. Occasionally', he sings on the wing, 
 ascending in small circles and then returning to
 
 PERCHIXG BIRDS. 157 
 
 the spot whence he arose. In confinement these 
 birds are lively, and easily managed. Mr. Sweet 
 says, that one he possessed would sing for hours 
 together, against a nightingale, and would not 
 suffer itself to be outdone. When the nightin- 
 gale raised its voice, he did the same, and tried 
 his utmost to get above it. Sometimes, in the 
 midst of the song, he would run up to the night- 
 ingale, and stretch out his neck, and whistle as 
 loud as he could, staring it in the face ; and if 
 the nightingale attempted to peck him, away he 
 went in a moment, flying round the aviary, and 
 singing all the time. 
 
 The BLACKCAP WARBLER is a common and widely 
 dispersed species, visiting this country about the 
 same time as the nightingale. The males, which 
 are readily distinguished by their jet-black heads, 
 arrive, as is usual with many birds, (especially 
 of this family,) some days before the females, and 
 their song soon betrays their retreat. They fre- 
 quent gardens, plantations, and thick hedges, and 
 are restless and shy, concealing themselves from 
 observation. The blackcap is considered to be 
 second only to the nightingale in his song ; and 
 his tones are deep, sweet, and full. The song is 
 generally given from a high perch or branch, 
 and while singing, the bird raises his head and 
 inflates his throat, appearing in a high state of
 
 158 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 excitement. In trilling, it especially excels, sur- 
 passing every other songster of the grove in the 
 rapidity and clearness of the swells and cadences 
 which it gives to the same trill. It has a wild- 
 ness and witchery in its strain, that seems to 
 partake of the nature of genius. Occasionally it 
 adopts the notes of other birds, but transposes 
 them into a lower, or minor key ; finishing them 
 off with a sort of wild variation of its own. The 
 nest is near the ground, generally in a bush ; and 
 the male takes his turn in sitting on the eggs, and, 
 seemingly, is so delighted with his task, that he 
 frequently sings while sitting ; thus leading, not 
 unseldom, to the discovery of the carefully con- 
 cealed nest. The food of these birds is insects 
 and caterpillars, and when the supply of them 
 is exhausted, it takes to the fruit, especially rasp- 
 berries and red currants. Bechstein says that a 
 young male bird which he kept during the winter 
 in his hot-house, being accustomed to receive a 
 meal-worm whenever he entered, became so ac- 
 customed to this, that when he saw him come, he 
 immediately flew to the jar where the worms were 
 kept, and, in case the signal was not attended to, 
 he would fly, and pass close under his master's 
 nose, and then resume his post; this he repeated, 
 sometimes even striking his wings against him, 
 until his wishes and impatience were gratified.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 159 
 
 The GREATER PETTYCHAPS, or garden warbler, is 
 not uncommon in many parts of the country. 
 It makes its appearance early in May, haunting 
 gardens and hedges. Its song resembles that of 
 the blackcap, but is less powerful. It ranks next 
 in esteem as a songster, and its rich soft tones 
 resemble exquisite flute notes. The whistling 
 part of the stave, which has something of the 
 mellowness of the blackbird, has an unbroken 
 swell, which is at once characteristic and pecu- 
 liar. It is larger then the blackcap, and has 
 longer wings. Unlike that bird, it does not sing 
 from a high perch but from the close cover, hence 
 it is not often seen, even by those who search for it. 
 
 The LESSEE PETTYCHAPS, or chiff-chaff, is the small- 
 est of our warblers, and the most hardy, coming 
 as early as March, and remaining till October, 
 and occasionally in mild winters remaining a 
 straggler in the warmer districts of the country. 
 It is very abundant in some parts of England, and 
 is found further north than any other of its kind. 
 It frequents woods and tall trees, and is very rest- 
 less in its habits, being always on the search for 
 insects. Its song consists of but two rather loud 
 hollow notes, resembling the words chip-chap, or 
 chiff-chaff. Mr. Sweet says, this bird is easily 
 taken in a trap, and soon becomes tame in con- 
 finement. One that he caught was so familiar
 
 160 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 as to take a fly from his fingers. It also learned 
 to drink milk out of a teaspoon, and was so fond 
 of it, that it would fly all round the room after 
 it; it would also dart up to the ceiling, and bring 
 a fly down every time. 
 
 The HEDGE WARBLER, better known to us by the 
 name of hedge sparrow, is so general everywhere 
 throughout the British Islands, that it comes under 
 the observation of all. It frequents hedgerows 
 and gardens, from spring to autumn, feeding on 
 insects, worms and seeds, but not on fruits. Early 
 in February the short and sweet, though rather 
 monotonous, song of the male is heard ; and con- 
 tinues throughout the greater part of the year. 
 The nest is usually placed, rather low down, in 
 a thick hedge or bush, and is the ready booty of 
 every prying boy; so that the blue eggs of the 
 hedge sparrow may be seen strung in long rows 
 in every cottage collection. They are sociable 
 and harmless little birds, and in winter come 
 near to our habitations in hope of some chance 
 supplies, which their gentle and unobtrusive man- 
 ners fully entitle them to receive at our hands. 
 
 The WOOD-WARBLER is a beautiful little bird, the 
 general tint of its plumage being a soft green, 
 shading to a sulphur yellow, and the yellow pass- 
 ing into pure silvery white, beautiful and spotless ; 
 whence it has the local name of " linty white." Its
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 161 
 
 form is light, without being feeble. It is very 
 generally distributed through the wooded dis- 
 tricts, preferring old plantations, and woods with 
 tall trees. Its note is very peculiar, resembling 
 the word " twee," repeated several times in succes- 
 sion ; at first slowly, but afterwards in a hurried 
 manner, and accompanied by a singular tremulous 
 motion of the wings. Its sole food appears to be 
 insects. 
 
 The WILLOW WARBLER is of frequent occurrence in 
 gardens, plantations, hedges, and willow-grounds. 
 It is very plentiful in the counties round about 
 London, and is, on the whole, much more gene- 
 rally found than the preceding species. Its song, 
 though possessing little variety, is soft and pleas- 
 ing, consisting of several plaintive notes, in a 
 regular descending scale. In appearance it is 
 much like the wood warbler, being principally 
 distinguished by its paler colour and shorter 
 wings ; but still more closely resembles the chiff- 
 chaff, from which it is, in fact, very difficult to 
 distinguish it, except by the different colour of 
 the markings on the egg.
 
 J62 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 CHAFFER VI. 
 
 The PIPITS. The Meadow, the Tree, and the Rock Pipit 
 The CHATS. The Stone-chat Its haunts the moor and 
 the furze Pleasing description of this little bird by Mr. 
 Mudie The Whin-chat The Wheatear A common 
 British bird Superstitious dislike to it in the North 
 Esteemed as a bonne-bouche, in the South The TITS 
 A numerous and diminutive race The Tom-tit The 
 Long-tailed Tit Description of its nest The Blue Tit 
 A courageous little bird Curious in its choice of nesting- 
 places Anecdote of a tame titmouse. 
 
 THE PIPITS partake in some degree of the character 
 of the insect-eating birds, and partly of that of the 
 lark. They are short-winged, and have feet well 
 adapted for running. They nestle on the ground, 
 and sometimes use hair for the lining of their nests, 
 which is seldom or never done by the larks, with 
 which they have been confounded. There are 
 three regular British species, the meadow, the tree, 
 and the rock pipit ; and one accidental, Richard's 
 pipit. 
 
 Of these the MEADOW PIPIT is very abundant, 
 being freely distributed over the meadow grounds 
 in summer, and the uplands in winter, at which 
 latter season it is found among sheep which are 
 folded on turnips. It is resident throughout the
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 163 
 
 year, appearing to prefer uncultivated districts. 
 This bird moves from place to place with short, 
 unequal jerks ; but when in full song it rises to a 
 considerable height in the air, and with vibrating 
 motion, singing as it descends and always returning 
 to the ground, on which its nest is placed. Its 
 plumage is sober olive brown, with a slight 
 greenish and dull whitey tinge and dusky spots. 
 The bird runs swiftly, and catches insects and 
 worms readily. In many places it is called the 
 titlark, or titling. 
 
 The TRKE PIPIT much resembles the preceding ; 
 the main difference between them being in the 
 length of the hind claw, and it is also rather larger. 
 It is a summer-migrant, and is not uncommon in 
 wooded districts, but is rarely or never found in 
 the open country. When the male is in song, he 
 generally springs by successive leaps to the top of 
 a tree, where he rests awhile, and then leaps 
 higher into the air, chirping as he ascends ; he 
 presently commences his song, and while uttering 
 it, slides down with expanded wing and tail 
 erected and spread, till he again reaches the tree, 
 where he pauses, and then descends to the ground. 
 
 The ROCK PIPIT is common on rocky shores, in 
 many parts of the kingdom ; but it is never found 
 inland. It is resident throughout the year. Its 
 song and habits are similar to those of the two 
 
 M 2
 
 164 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 former species. It feeds on marine insects, and 
 breeds in the clefts of the rocks. It is pleasant 
 amid the storms and desolation of winter, on the 
 sea-coast, to see this little bird "bobbing" about, 
 and braving the weather ; and at that season he is 
 almost the only winged creature to be met with 
 upon long stretches of the beach. 
 
 The CHATS are well-marked, and distinct in 
 their habits and character. Their bills resemble 
 a little those of the insect-hawking birds, and 
 their feet are well fitted for running. They dwell 
 in the wilds, nestling under stones, furze bushes, 
 and brushwood, on dry commons and heaths. 
 They have not much song ; their ordinary note is 
 peculiar, not unlike the sound made by striking 
 one pebble against another. 
 
 The STONE CHAT is the only resident British 
 species. It frequents dry moors, and lives among 
 the thick brakes of furze, finding shelter and food 
 there, even during the winter season. Mr. Mudie 
 says, "This is most truly the whin chat, as it 
 summers and winters among the furze." His 
 description of it is veiy pleasing. " These are 
 very delightful birds. The furze-brakes are among 
 the first places on which the sun of the young 
 year shines out. The green and gold of the furze 
 itself are gay and cheering; and it breathes a
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 165 
 
 delicious odour. The black, white, and brown of 
 this little bird contrast beautifully with the colour 
 of the furze, as he sits on the topmost and luxuri- 
 ant branch, ever and anon flinging himself a few 
 feet into the air, hovering over the bushes, flitting 
 now here, now there, and chaunting his little song, 
 soft and persuasive, but low. It sings, too, till 
 you are almost close upon it, and then drops so 
 perpendicularly, that you imagine you have only 
 to stoop, lift the side branch, and pick it up. But 
 it glides through the bushes like magic, and 
 appears hovering and singing again, foiling all 
 attempts at a capture." 
 
 The WHIN CHAT is similar in its haunts and 
 habits to the preceding birds; but there is this 
 difference, the whin chats, almost to a bird, depart 
 in autumn, to go farther south. 
 
 The WHEATEAR, or fallow-chat, (as it is some- 
 times called,) is a summer migrant, and by far the 
 most abundant as well as largest of its kind. It 
 ranges all over these islands, being common every- 
 where on open downs and in uninclosed districts. 
 It perches on clods, and especially on stones, 
 beneath which it forms its nest, as well as in 
 rabbit-burrows, and under the clods in fallow fields. 
 Hence its names of fallow-chat, wheatear, and 
 clod-hopper. These birds love a dripping sky and 
 misty atmosphere; for their principal food is
 
 166 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 earth-worms, though they also take insects of 
 various kinds. In the north, the wheatear is 
 generally found on heaps of stones by ruins, or 
 among the tombstones in burial grounds ; and its 
 haiints have got it an ill name with the Scotch. 
 They call it the " clacheran ;" and the noise which 
 it makes when alarmed, being not unlike that of 
 breaking stones with a hammer, the superstitious 
 ignorant fancy it is busy breaking the stones that 
 are to cover their bones. Hence, the poor birds 
 get killed and persecuted, and to destroy their 
 eggs is thought a good work. 
 
 In the south, the wheatear is highly esteemed as 
 a bonne-bouche for the table ; and when they 
 collect in numbers on the southern downs, which 
 they do about the middle of July, they are caught 
 in horse-hair nooses and traps in vast numbers. 
 At that time they are very fat, and of exquisite 
 flavour. The shepherds supply them abundantly, 
 placing traps for them in the turf of the downs, 
 over which their flocks graze. The number of 
 them taken every autumn, in the county of Sussex 
 alone, is very extraordinary, and it is customary to 
 dress them by dozens at the inns of the numerous 
 watering-places on the Sussex coast. 
 
 The wheatear is a handsome bird ; its colours 
 being bluish-gray and black, the throat and rump 
 whitish, and the breast of a buff-orange.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 167 
 
 There are seven British species of the TITS ; 
 namely, the great tit, the blue tit, the cole tit, the 
 marsh tit, the long-tailed tit, the crested tit, and 
 the bearded tit. They are a diminutive but 
 sprightly race of birds, possessed both of much 
 courage and much strength. Their general food 
 consists of seeds, fruits, insects, and their eggs; 
 and they will eat small pieces of meat, and parti- 
 cularly fat, of which they are very fond. They 
 do not migrate, but sometimes make short flirtings 
 to and from other places, in search of food. Some 
 of them will venture to attack birds twice or thrice 
 their own size ; and in this case they aim chiefly 
 at the eyes. Their motions are rapid and agile, 
 and they run with incessant activity along the 
 branches of trees, and hang suspended from the 
 twigs, hunting for their insect prey.* 
 
 The GREAT TIT or " torn-tit," is common in woods 
 and gardens throughout the country. He is the 
 largest of the species, and will frequently kill 
 small birds ; which he does by repeated blows of 
 
 * Mr. Yarrell observes that the great tit, the blue, the cole, 
 the marsh, and the long-tailed tit, are each of them common 
 around London. He adds that a young ornithological friend 
 of his gave him a list of birds observed by himself in Kensing- 
 ton Gardens, including nearly seventy species (an unusually 
 large number for so limited a locality in such a situation). 
 The five species of tits just named were included in the 
 list
 
 168 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 his hard and sharp beak on the skull of his victim. 
 Afterwards he picks out and eats the brains. 
 
 The LONG -TAILED TIT is not uncommon in woods 
 and shrubberies, in most parts of the kingdom. 
 The nest of this bird has already been described ; 
 It has always attracted attention as a model of 
 beautiful architecture, and Mr. Yarrell says, " We 
 have many accurate descriptions of it handed down 
 from times when the habits and even the forms 
 of birds were but imperfectly known." The same 
 author pronounces this nest to be "altogether 
 one of the most extraordinary of animal struc- 
 tures." 
 
 The BLUE TIT is one of the most courageous of 
 his kind ; and is well known among the bird-nest- 
 ing boys of several counties, by the name of 
 " Billy biter," from the recollection of the impres- 
 sion made by his hard and sharp beak upon their 
 fingers. The female is not easily driven from her 
 nest, but defends it with great perseverance and 
 valour, puffing out her feathers, hissing like an 
 angry kitten, and pecking. 
 
 These birds often choose the oddest and most 
 conspicuous places for their nests. Not long 
 since, a pair built in an old rat's nest ; a drinking- 
 cup having been left in the hole of a wall, a little 
 tit commenced building her nest in it the next 
 day, and in a week she had laid eleven eggs.
 
 1. TOMTIT. 2. SKYIABK. 3. YELLOW-HAMMBB- 4. GOLDFINCH.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 171 
 
 Mr. Thompson says this is the most common 
 species of titmouse in Ireland. He describes the 
 manners of one in confinement, and says that, from 
 its vivacity and familiarity, it was most amusing. 
 It would cut through the netting of its cage, and 
 fly into the room, attacking a bit of bread or cake 
 in the children's hands, and absolutely refusing to 
 quit hold, notwithstanding all the efforts of the 
 child to drive it off. It was particularly fond of 
 lump-sugar. Being confined in a cage with some 
 other birds, it annoyed them sadly ; its favourite 
 trick was to pull the feathers out of its fellow- 
 prisoners, and it even tried this in the case of a 
 song-thrush, but was successfully repelled. It 
 escaped out of doors several times, but always 
 returned without being sought for.
 
 172 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 The LABKS. The Skylark Its song Nestles on the ground 
 The BUNTINGS. A numerous race The Yellow Bunting, 
 or Yellow-hammer Abundance and beauty of this bird 
 Congregates with other field-birds in the winter The 
 Common Bunting A mischievous propensity of this bud 
 The Black-headed or Reed Bunting An inhabitant of 
 marshy places, and the sides of lakes and ponds The 
 Snow Bunting Affecting anecdote by Captain Lyon. 
 
 WITH the LARKS commences the division of the 
 COXICAL-BEAKED PERCHERS ; a distinction drawn from 
 the form and great power of the beak. Many of 
 the birds in this division live almost entirely on 
 grain ; others on seeds ; and so great is the strength 
 of the bill in some, that they can even crack the 
 stones of various fruits, so as to get at the kernel. 
 
 There are three or four species of larks, of 
 which the chief is the SKY-LARK that bird whose 
 joyous carol charms our ears and gladdens our 
 hearts; the loved herald of the morn; sung by 
 our great poet as such 
 
 " Hark ! hark ! the lark at heaven's gate sings, 
 And Phoebus 'gins to rise " 
 
 On quivering wing the bird rises, almost perpen- 
 dicularly, and by successive springs, mounting 
 high and yet higher, singing as he goes, till he is
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 173 
 
 lost from our sight; yet so powerful his voice, 
 that its wild ecstatic strain, filling the air with 
 glad melody, is heard distinctly when the strained 
 eye can follow its course no longer. Poised aloft, 
 he continues to pour forth his thrilling music in 
 rapturous gushes ; till again descending, he gradu- 
 ally suppresses his song, and abruptly closes it on 
 reaching the ground. There is, perhaps, no sound 
 in all nature's chorus so expressive of joy as this 
 song. " Pretty bird ! (thus does one of our admir- 
 able old divines apostrophize it) singing most 
 sweetly and never ceasing his pleasant ditty while 
 he hovereth aloft, as if he were there gazing into 
 the glory of the sun ; but is suddenly silenced 
 when he falleth to the earth. So is the frame of 
 the soul most delectable and divine while it 
 keepeth in the view of God by contemplation; 
 but, alas ! we make there too short a stay, and 
 down again we fall, and lay by our music." 
 
 Larks generally rest upon the ground, owing to 
 the peculiar construction of their hind claws, 
 which are very long and straight. They also 
 build their nests on the ground, which exposes 
 them to many dangers ; but as they are exceed- 
 ingly prolific their numbers are very great. The 
 strong attachment of the parent birds for their 
 young is well-known ; they will scarcely leave the 
 nest to avoid the mower's scythe, and after the
 
 174 BRITISH LAXD BIRDS. 
 
 young are hatched, their watchfulness and care 
 seem to increase. There are two or three cases 
 recorded of the sky-lark moving its eggs, and 
 even the young birds, under the fear of danger. 
 Though living in pairs during summer, they are 
 gregarious in winter, assembling in vast flocks, and 
 feeding on the ground. They are then in excel- 
 lent condition ; whereas in summer they are lean. 
 
 The BUNTINGS are a numerous race of birds, with 
 which every one is familiar. There are seven 
 British species : the Lapland bunting, the snow 
 bunting, the common bunting, the reed bunting, 
 the yellow bunting, the cirl bunting, and the 
 ortolan bunting. Of these the yellow, the com- 
 mon, and the reed bunting, are the most generally 
 diffused. They are marked by having very strong 
 beaks ; so formed as to be well-fitted for breaking 
 the shells, or rinds of seeds. The upper bill has a 
 hard, bony knob. They live principally on giain 
 and seeds, but also eat insects. These birds have 
 plenty of voice, but no song ; and are always very 
 active in the heat of the day, keeping up an inces- 
 sant, though harsh and tuneless, chattering. 
 
 The YELLOW BUNTING, or yellow-hammer, is one 
 of our most common birds, as well as one of the 
 handsomest ; attracting the eye by its brilliant 
 plumage, the fine lemon-yellow colour of the
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 175 
 
 head and breast, and the rich chestnut and brown 
 of the back. It is conspicuous almost everywhere, 
 in summer particularly, frequenting all hedges, 
 gardens, lanes and high-roads ; and were it less 
 common it would doubtless be much admired. 
 The abundance and beauty of these birds do not, 
 however, win them favour. Boys destroy their 
 nests for very wantonness, and in the northern 
 parts of the country, they were formerly regarded 
 with a sort of superstitious dislike. 
 
 The yellow bunting is a bird of the cornfields ; 
 or at least of the richer parts of the country. It 
 is very attentive to its duties in rearing its 
 young ; the old birds sit alternately on the nest, 
 and when the brood are hatched, toil hard to supply 
 their wants. When winter comes, they resort to 
 more open places, and though they do not flock in 
 such numbers as larks, yet they collect in open 
 fields, near the copses and places they usually 
 frequent. Though they do not actually migrate, 
 they occasionally pass from the colder parts of the 
 country to the warmer. At these times, they 
 flock with chaffinches, greenfinches and others, 
 mingling readily and harmoniously with them. 
 At this season, they get very fat. In Italy, large 
 quantities of this and the common bunting are 
 caught and sold for the purposes of the table, 
 together with the ortolan bunting.
 
 176 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 It has been noticed, that many of our little birds 
 which get their living in company during the 
 winter days, divide into their several families 
 before they roost, and meet and associate again in 
 the morning ; on which occasions there is often a 
 sort of welcome at meeting, and farewell at part- 
 ing. They wheel about together, making the air 
 resound with their little wings ; and generally the 
 yellow-hammers, at parting from their companions 
 of the day, alight upon some tree or hedge, in 
 numbers, and chatter together before betaking 
 themselves to roost. What the song wants in 
 quality seems to be made up in quantity ; and 
 they will sit for hours repeating their chirps, 
 without even changing their position. 
 
 The COMMON BUNTING, though not so handsome a 
 bird as the preceding, is larger, and, it should 
 seem, hardier. Like the yellow-hammer, it fre- 
 quents cornfields; and in Scotland goes by the 
 name of the corn bunting. Its favourite grain is 
 millet, and in countries where it is eaten it is 
 fattened for the table with it. The cry (for it is 
 more a screech than a song) of the male is usually 
 uttered from the top of a hedjro or bush ; rarely 
 from a tree. Sparrows, and other birds, will 
 burrow in a stack and pilfer the com; but the 
 bunting appears to have a mischievous propensity 
 peculiar to himself. "I saw (says Mr. Knapj.) a
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 177 
 
 rick of barley entirely stripped of its thatching; 
 which this bird effected by seizing the end of the 
 straw, and deliberately drawing it out, to search 
 for any grain that might yet remain." Buntings 
 are sometimes brought to market, and sold for 
 larks ; but they may be easily distinguished by the 
 short bill, with its knob in the roof of the mouth, 
 or simply by the colour, which is much darker on 
 the under part, and by the short hind claw. 
 
 The BLACK-HEADED, Or REED BUNTING 18 a Well- 
 
 known inhabitant of marshy places, and the sides 
 of lakes and ponds, and is always found near 
 water. It is not uncommon, and remains in this 
 country throughout the year. It has been some- 
 times mistaken for the reed warbler; but their 
 habits and song are quite different. This bunting 
 is about the size of the yellow-hammer ; and its 
 voice is as tuneless as the rest of its family. It is 
 an energetic bird in the air ; active in its move- 
 ments, especially in that of the tail, which is even 
 more rapid than in the wagtails. The bird has 
 the habit of clinging to the flexible stalks of the 
 water-plants, and the powerful and ready motion 
 of the tail is absolutely necessary as a means of 
 balancing. It rides with security and even grace 
 when the stems are on a level with the water, 
 adhering as if it were a part of the plant ; and 
 keeping its head to the wind. And when the
 
 178 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 autumn and winter winds have borne away the 
 seeds, and blown down the reeds, the bird goes to 
 other pastures, associating with its yellow brothers, 
 and other grain-eating birds; and when the 
 weather is severe approaching houses and farm- 
 yards. 
 
 Although the SNOW BUNTING, or SNOW-FLAKE, is 
 only a winter visitor to this country, it deserves a 
 short notice on account of some interesting points 
 in its history. It is, during the breeding season, 
 an inhabitant of the Arctic regions and the islands 
 of the Polar Sea ; and Linnaeus, in his tour in Lap- 
 land, observes that it is said to be the only living 
 animal that has been seen 2000 feet above the line 
 of perpetual snow, in the Lapland Alps. A travel- 
 ler in Norway says, " "We saw the snow buntings 
 in their beautiful plumage of black and white, and 
 found a nest with the young under some loose 
 stones." The male bird attends assiduously on 
 his mate, and often rises up in the air when he 
 goes from the nest, singing sweetly, and with his 
 wings and tail spread like the tree pipit. It breeds 
 in the northernmost of the American islands ; and 
 Captain Lyon found its nest of dry grass, carefully 
 lined with a few feathers and the hair of the deer, 
 at Southampton Island, singularly placed. 
 
 "Near the large graves," says the captain, 
 in liis interesting description of an Esquimaux
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 179 
 
 burying-place, " was a third pile of stones, cover- 
 ing the body of a child, which was coiled up. A 
 snow bunting had found its way through the loose 
 stones which composed this little tomb, and its 
 now forsaken, neatly built nest, was found placed 
 on the bosom of the child. As the snow bunting 
 has all the domestic virtues of our English red- 
 breast, it has always been considered by us as the 
 robin of these dreary wilds, and its lively chirp 
 and fearless confidence have rendered it respected 
 by the most hungry sportsman. I could not, on 
 this occasion, view its little nest, placed thus on 
 the breast of infancy, without wishing that I 
 possessed the power of poetically expressing the 
 feelings it excited." 
 
 A number of the young birds of the year, bred in 
 high northern latitudes, annually visit our islands. 
 They are seen in the Hebrides, and also in Scot- 
 land, in little flocks, evidently family groups ; they 
 move in a compact body, and in whirling roving 
 flights, immediately before or soon after a fall of 
 snow. It is conjectured that the snow-flake pro- 
 bably breeds on the higher Grampians. It is 
 occasionally seen in large flocks along the marshes 
 of the coast.
 
 180 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The FINCHES. The Chaffinch Description of the habits 
 and nesting of this bird The Greater Redpole, or Common 
 Linnet Its habits, and beauty of plumage in the male 
 The Lesser Redpole Diminutive size and pretty manners 
 of this little bii-d The Twite, or Mountain Linnet The 
 Greenfinch One of our commonest birds The Hawfinch 
 An extremely shy bird The Goldfinch Beauty and 
 docility of this species Tame Goldfinches Anecdote of 
 a collection of trained Goldfinches, Linnets, and Canaries. 
 
 THE transition from the buntings to the FINCHES 
 is easy ; the principal difference consisting in the 
 beak, which in the finch-tribe is conical, very 
 thick at the base, and tapering to a sharp point. 
 Their plumage varies much, according to sex and 
 age, whence has arisen some confusion in the 
 names given them the same birds being called by 
 different names. Of the mimerous small birds 
 included in this family, each exhibits, in its own 
 domestic habits, as much skill and wisdom in the 
 management of its concerns as the wisest of 
 human kind. There is a difference between the 
 music of the warblers, which is soft, mellow, and
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 181 
 
 often deep, and the notes of the finches, which are 
 loud, clear, and sometimes shrill. 
 
 The SPARROWS form one genus of this family ; 
 and several of the finches are called LINNETS, 
 because these birds eat the seeds of lint or flax, as 
 well as hemp, of which, and all oily seeds, the 
 whole family are particularly fond. They change 
 their habits and places of resort with the seasons, 
 flocking in winter, and moving their quarters 
 according to the temperature. They are all useful 
 to the farmer, by consuming the seeds of trouble- 
 some weeds, and they also destroy insects. Where 
 these interesting little creatures are scarce, the 
 weeds " get the better" of all the labours of human 
 art, and, even in an economical point of view, 
 their value is great. 
 
 The CHAFFINCH is one of our commonest birds, 
 early in the season, and handsome. His bright 
 colours and active habits, and lively, confident 
 behaviour, (allowing a near approach without 
 alarm,) have made him a general favourite. He 
 is one of the commonest cage birds in France, 
 and it is a common proverb in that country, 
 " Gay as a chaffinch." The name of pink, by 
 which this bird is known proviiicially, has re- 
 ference to the sound of its call-note. 
 
 The chaffinch is about the size of the house 
 sparrow, but more lightly and elegantly formed.
 
 182 BRITISH LAND BIEDS. 
 
 In winter the females separate, and the males 
 flock, feeding with other birds in the stubble 
 lauds, and in severe weather resorting to farm- 
 yards. The females migrate to the south of Eng- 
 land in great numbers, and return in the spring 
 to their breeding haunts. All the finches are 
 remarkable for the neatness and beauty of the 
 nests they construct, and the chaffinch is pre- 
 eminently so. The nest is really a beautiful 
 structure, and very neatly and compactly put 
 together, so that it requires some force to pull 
 it to pieces. In the "Field Naturalist's Maga- 
 zine," there is an account of a pair of chaffinches 
 that built so near to the sitting-room window of 
 the writer, as to allow him to observe closely all 
 their proceedings. The foundation of the nest 
 was laid on the 12th April; the female alone 
 worked at the nest-making, and by unwearied 
 diligence finished her beautiful work in three 
 weeks. She laid five eggs, and sat most pa- 
 tiently during thirteen days, at the end of which 
 the brood was hatched. 
 
 The GREATER REDPOLE, Or COMMON LINNET, IS One 
 
 of those birds about which there has been some 
 confusion. It is called the linnet finch, the grey 
 linnet, the white linnet, the brown linnet, and 
 the greater redpole. The LINNET is the most 
 general name. It is a gay and active bird, with
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 183 
 
 sprightly and agreeable notes, and social dispo- 
 sition, and it is an exceedingly well-known one, 
 existing in great numbers on most of the un- 
 cultivated lands of this country, appearing to 
 prefer commons and fields of furze. Usually 
 these birds are seen in flocks, roving about from 
 place to place, feeding on small seeds, particularly 
 those of flax, thistle, and dandelion. They usually 
 prefer the thickest parts of furze-bushes for their 
 nesting-places, or low bushy trees. In the breed- 
 ing season the male becomes more richly tinted ; 
 the crown of the head is tinged with rose colour 
 and this hue, becoming lighter in shade, colours 
 the breast, and fades to a pale peach on the sides. 
 It is then called " the rose linnet." This beau- 
 tiful colour is not seen in these birds in a state 
 of confinement. Linnets are birds of very gentle 
 dispositions, easily tamed, and capable of much 
 attachment to those who feed them. Their song 
 is cheerful and pleasing. 
 
 The LESSER REDPOLE is the smallest of the British 
 linnets. It is known in the south of England as a 
 winter visitor only, at which season considerable 
 flocks make their appearance. Its note is a lively 
 twitter, and its sprightly engaging habits, make 
 it a favourite. It is one of the most easily tamed 
 of the smaller birds, and will breed in confine- 
 ment. The habits of unsuspecting confidence
 
 184 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 in these birds, have been noted by naturalists. 
 Audubon, in his " Ornithological Biography," says 
 that he saw them, in small parties of seven or 
 eight, seemingly belonging to the same family, 
 and that when fired at they all rose on the wing, 
 and mixed together ; but presently separated again 
 into families, alighting on the same bushes, and 
 resumed their occupation; and when alighted, 
 were quite unsuspicious and allowed a near 
 approach. They exhibited the most affectionate 
 disposition, and it was pleasing to see several 
 on a twig feeding each other, by passing a seed 
 from bill to bill, one sometimes receiving from 
 his two neighbours at the same time. 
 
 Their favourite haunts are the copses of hazel 
 and birch trees, and the plantations of young 
 timber, the catkins of those trees yielding them 
 a plentiful supply of food. Their motions, when 
 feeding, are remarkably agile ; they are admirable 
 perchers, and their action resembles that of the 
 crested wrens and tits. On the twigs of a weeping 
 birch, which are little thicker than packthread, 
 these little creatures may be seen, swinging back- 
 wards and forwards, busily feeding, and never 
 losing their perch. 
 
 There are two other British linnets, the TWITE, 
 or MOUNTAIN-LINNET, a regular northern species, 
 not uncommon in the neighbourhood of London,
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 185 
 
 and in many of the eastern counties, during the 
 winter season, flocking with sparrows and other 
 small birds. At the approach of spring it retires 
 to the northern and mountainous parts of England 
 and Scotland, where it breeds. The particular 
 note of the bird, resembling the word "twite" 
 in its sound, has procured it that name. The 
 other species, the MEALY REDPOLE, is an accidental 
 one, and has been considered by many ornitholo- 
 gists to be merely a larger variety of the lesser 
 redpole. It is larger, and the general plumage 
 paler. 
 
 The GREEN FINCH is one of our common birds, 
 and remains with us through the year, only occa- 
 sionally changing its ground in severe weather. 
 It frequents gardens, orchards, and cultivated 
 lands ; and may be seen actively engaged among 
 the branches and hedges, searching for seeds and 
 insects. In the form of its bill, which is very 
 large, it more resembles the sparrow; but in 
 other respects it is more allied to the finches. 
 It is a pretty bird, of soft and gentle appear- 
 ance, and the tints of its plumage are subdued 
 and blending, the predominant hues being olive- 
 green and yellow. 
 
 The largest British species of this genus is the 
 HAWFINCH, or COMMON GROSBEAK, which has been 
 frequently described as merely a winter visitant,
 
 186 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 but it is now ascertained to be a resident through- 
 out the year in some localities. It is particularly 
 abundant at Epping Forest; its principal food 
 there, being the seed of the hornbeam, a tree 
 very prevalent in that locality. The extreme shy- 
 ness of this bird is said to exceed that of every 
 other land bird, so that it is very difficult to gain 
 any acquaintance with its habits. When the young 
 birds are able to provide for themselves they unite 
 with the old ones in flocks, and remain so through- 
 out the winter, feeding on the hornbeam seeds 
 which have fallen to the ground, the newly- 
 cracked shells of which are seen, in abundance, 
 at their haunts. 
 
 The hawfinch seems to have no song worthy the 
 name. When a number are sitting together, they 
 may be heard uttering a few notes, in a soft tone, 
 something like those of the bully. The length 
 of the bird, is full seven inches; the bill is pro- 
 digiously thick and strong. 
 
 There are many other birds belonging to this 
 family, but those most generally known and com- 
 mon having been mentioned, there shall only be 
 added to the list the GOLDFINCH, which is certainly 
 one of the most beautiful as well as useful, of our 
 resident birds. It is small, but powerfully winged, 
 and very energetic in all its movements. Its chief 
 food consists of the seeds of thistles, docks, and
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 187 
 
 similar plants, especially injurious to the fields 
 and pastures ; and therefore, independently of its 
 beauty and song, it claims the protection of the 
 farmer, on the score of utility to his crops. If 
 watched when feeding, the young birds may be 
 seen climbing and clinging in all directions and 
 positions about the stems of the seed-bearing plants, 
 picking out their favourite parts. If approached 
 too near, the little party, one by one, will move off 
 to the nearest patch, with waving flight, twittering 
 as they rise 
 
 " . . . . each outstretch'd wing, 
 A fairy fan with golden sticks adorn'd," 
 
 And thus they rove, in small flocks, through the 
 autumn and winter, living almost entirely on 
 various seeds. 
 
 This bird is easily tamed and taught, and in 
 addition to its capability of learning the notes of 
 other birds, the tricks it may be made to perform 
 are astonishing. Mr. Lyme, in his " British Song 
 Birds," speaks of a collection of wonderfully trained 
 goldfinches, linnets, and canaries, which was ex- 
 hibited many years since. One of these birds 
 appeared dead, and was held up by the tail or 
 claw without giving any signs of life ; a second 
 stood on its head with its claws in the air; a 
 third carried pails on its shoulders; a fourth
 
 188 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 appeared as soldier on guard, a fifth acted as can- 
 noneer, and discharged a small cannon, and the 
 same bird acted as if it had been wounded, was 
 wheeled off in a barrow, and afterwards flew away 
 before the company ; a sixth turned a kind of wind- 
 mill ; and the last bird stood in the midst of some 
 fireworks, which were discharged all around it, 
 without seeming the least afraid. 
 
 The goldfinch is long-lived, and one is known 
 to have lived twenty-three years in confinement.
 
 189 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The BTJI/FINCH This bird in its wild state Its great des- 
 tructiveness Amusing letter on the subject Mode of 
 training piping bulfinches Four anecdotes illustrative of 
 the strong attachment these birds are capable of SPABBOWS 
 The Tree Sparrow The House Sparrow Habits of 
 this bird, its nest and food London Sparrow Anecdote 
 of the Cockney Sparrow and the keeper of the "Early 
 Breakfast Shop" "Are not two sparrows sold for one 
 farthing ?" 
 
 THE BULFINCH is ranked between the grosbeaks 
 and the crossbills. Though called in popular 
 language a finch, it has none of the habits of 
 the finches. With its form and manners as a 
 cage bird we are \vell acquainted, but as a wild 
 inhabitant of the woods it is comparatively un- 
 known ; for it is of rather shy and retiring habits, 
 and is seldom seen associated with any but its own 
 species. The natural song of the bird is a plaintive, 
 softly modulated whistle, and so low that it cannot 
 be heard but in its close vicinity. It inhabits 
 all thickly wooded places, and also brakes and 
 hedges, when not in exposed situations. Its shape 
 is most compact and neat, and very expressive of
 
 190 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 energy and strength. The outline of the head and 
 bill are fine, and the latter is strong in proportion 
 to its size. Its bright black eye has a somewhat 
 prying expression. It feeds on corn, seeds, and 
 all sorts of berries, and the buds of most trees. 
 It is very destructive in gardens, throughout the 
 spring season ; devouring the blossom buds of the 
 various kinds of fruit, so as to destroy all prospects 
 of the crop. Those buds which produce the leaves 
 are passed over, and the foliage expands as usual, 
 but the tree bears no fruit. From various autho- 
 rities it appears that the bulfinch is a more decided 
 bud-destroyer than any other of our birds. In winter 
 it feeds on hips and haws and other seeds. These 
 mischievous propensities make these birds serious 
 foes to the orchards and gardens of the fruit dis- 
 tricts ; as is shown by such a note as the following, 
 taken from " The Zoologist, for 1849."" Can you 
 recommend any method of overcoming bulfinches, 
 which last year have committed more ravages 
 than usual in a secluded parish in the north of 
 Devon, where they can harbour in surrounding 
 plantations ? Any advice on the subject, will be 
 thankfully received by the clergyman of the parish, 
 for the sake of his own crops and those of his 
 poorer neighbours, in future." 
 
 An amusing note, appended to this, informs us 
 that a stuffed cat, " placed in a conspicuous situa-
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 191 
 
 tion, is a capital scare-bulfinch," but the droll 
 warning is added, that it will be found useless 
 to exercise ingenuity in making the cat look un- 
 naturally horrible; for the birds are up to that 
 trick, and pay no regard to a monster. So the 
 nearer to nature, the better the scare-bully. 
 
 These birds breed rather late in the season. 
 They are much attached to each other and their 
 young, and it is believed they pair for life. 
 
 Bulfinches are much prized as cage-birds ; in 
 consequence of the readiness with which they 
 learn to whistle musical airs; and their powers 
 of memory, when well educated, and carefully 
 attended to. 
 
 The mode of teaching and training them, is 
 given, very fully, in " Bechstein's Cage Birds." 
 The instruction should commence very early, and 
 it is found the birds learu best just after eating. 
 " The good and pure whistling of a man of taste," 
 is preferable to any instrument that can be used. 
 As the bird imitates exactly the sounds he hears, 
 it is necessary to be perfectly accurate and in 
 good tune. When one cannot whistle well the 
 use of the flageolet is recommended in preference 
 to other instruments. A single air is as much, 
 generally, as the bird can learn and remember ; but 
 Bechstein, while he says this, adds that some can 
 whistle distinctly three different airs, without con-
 
 192 BRITISH LAND BIKDS. 
 
 fusing them in the least. In fact there are different 
 degrees of capacity among bulfinches as well as 
 other animals. One young bird will learn with 
 ease and quickness ; another slowly and with 
 difficulty. But it has been observed that those 
 which learn with most trouble, remember the 
 songs, when once learned, better and longer ; and 
 rarely forget them, even during the moulting 
 season, when the birds often entirely lose what 
 they have acquired. 
 
 Several hundreds of taught birds are annually 
 brought to Berlin, London, and other capitals, by 
 the German birdsellers; the price varying from 
 one to several pounds each, according to the 
 merits of the bird. 
 
 The bulfinch is very common in the moun- 
 tainous forests of Germany, and it is from Cologne 
 and other places in the Ehine districts that the 
 market for them is principally supplied. Many 
 of them are taught to sing by the weavers while 
 at work in their looms ; which is said to account 
 for the birds beginning to sing when a person 
 standing near them moves his head backwards and 
 forwards. 
 
 To these attractive powers of the bulfinch must be 
 added its obedience and capability of strong attach- 
 ment, which it shows by a variety of little endearing 
 actions; and it has been known even to repeat words
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 193 
 
 with an accent and tone expressive of sensibility, 
 so that one might almost suppose it understood 
 their meaning. It delights much in being noticed, 
 and expresses its pleasure by strutting about the 
 cage, throwing itself into vaiious attitudes, and 
 singing a short simple air, in the low sweet tone 
 of the uncultivated bird. This is their natural 
 song, which the males may be heard chaunting 
 to their mates during the hatching season. 
 
 Many instances of their attachment are recorded. 
 Buffon says one was known to have escaped from 
 an aviary, and lived at liberty in the woods for a 
 whole year, and then, on hearing the voice of its 
 beloved mistress, to have returned to her never 
 more to leave her. Others, when parted from 
 those who reared them, have died of grief. They 
 have excellent memories, and it is stated that a 
 bulfinch which had been thrown down in its 
 cage by some rabble, during an emeute, fell into 
 convulsions ever after at sight of any mean- 
 looking person, and expired in one of these fits, 
 eight months after the accident. 
 
 One of these birds which belonged to a lady was 
 subject to frightfuldreams, during which it would fall 
 from its perch, and beat itself against the cage, but 
 no sooner did the voice of its mistress reach it, than, 
 notwithstanding the darkness, it was at once tran- 
 quillized, and remounted the perch to sleep again.
 
 194 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 A most touching instance of affection in the 
 bulfinch is that mentioned in Bishop Stanley's 
 volume as having been told by Sir W. Parsons, 
 who was himself a great musician, and who when 
 a young man possessed a piping bulfinch, which 
 he had taught to sing " God save the king." On 
 his once going abroad he gave his favourite in 
 charge to his sister, and when he returned she 
 told him the poor little bird had long been ill, 
 and was at that moment very much so. Full 
 of sorrow, Sir William went into the room where 
 the cage was, and opening the door, put in his 
 hand and spoke to the bird. It knew his voice, 
 opened its eyes, shook its feathers, and staggering 
 on to his finger, piped " God save the king," and 
 fell dead. 
 
 A similar anecdote, in which the bird seems to 
 have died of sudden joy, is related by Mr. Thomp- 
 son, who says, that a bulfinch kept by a lady had 
 become so extremely attached to her, that he pined 
 in her absence, and only seemed at rest when she 
 was within sight. The lady fell sick, and was 
 confined to her bed for a week with so severe an 
 illness that she was entirely disabled from think- 
 ing of her pet. At length, when she was sufficiently 
 recovered to see him, she ordered his cage to be 
 brought and placed upon the bed beside her. The 
 bird knew her voice instantly, though it was weak
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 195 
 
 and low from fever ; the cage door was opened, he 
 uttered a shrill cry of joy, between a song and a 
 scream, fluttered from her hand to her cheek, and 
 fell dead. 
 
 There are but two British species of SPARROW 
 the house and the tree sparrow. The bird which 
 is known so generally by the name of hedge 
 sparrow being quite of another family, and called 
 rightly the hedge warbler, or accentor. 
 
 The TREE SPARROW is found chiefly in the midland 
 parts of England, and does not migrate far from 
 its native locality. It is an active and industrious 
 little bird, inhabiting and nesting in the holes of 
 decayed trees. 
 
 The HOUSE (or domestic) SPARROW, is known in 
 every part of England. It inhabits the dwellings 
 of the rich and the poor, taking possession of the 
 humble thatched cottage in preference to the 
 palace. So rarely is this bird seen far from the 
 haunts of man, that the sight of one bespeaks 
 a habitation near. Its nest is generally placed 
 under the eaves of houses, or in the holes of old 
 walls ; and it is adapted in size and material 
 to the place selected. If a thatch, tile, or hole, 
 be not at hand, the sparrow will make a tree 
 serve the purpose ; but, in this case, as a roofing 
 seems always required, a dome of straw is formed, 
 and an entrance made at the side large enough to
 
 196 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 admit the bird ; and the nest is always perched on 
 high, beyond the reach of enemies. All sorts of 
 materials are used to form the nest; feathers, 
 wool, cotton, or any stray substance at hand. Mr. 
 Montagu mentions, that a pair of sparrows in his 
 garden carried off a long piece of matting which had 
 been tied round some lettuces, and conveyed it to 
 their nest, under the tiles. It seemed, however, 
 they could not manage it skilfully, for both birds 
 got their legs so inextricably entangled in it that 
 they were held close prisoners. The extraordinary 
 outcry raised by their neighbour sparrows, who 
 assembled to gaze at the unfortunate pair, (not 
 attempting to aid them,) attracted attention, and 
 they were released, but not till they had been so 
 much exhausted by their struggles that they 
 shortly after died. 
 
 One food of sparrows is the house-fly, which 
 were it not for them would multiply to an in- 
 tolerable extent. They are also incessant in the 
 destruction of the cabbage-butterflies, and are very 
 useful scavengers in clearing away small offal of 
 various sorts. They are voracious birds, and very 
 energetic, and may be seen congregating in clus- 
 ters with a great deal of noise and clatter. Their 
 attachment to their young is very pleasing ; and 
 numerous instances of it are mentioned in works 
 on natural history.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 197 
 
 The impudence of London sparrows is prover- 
 bial ; and they have a good excuse for it, as they 
 must use their wits or die of hunger. An amusing 
 instance is given in " The Zoologist, for 1851," of a 
 cockney sparrow which had for three or four 
 years maintained a close friendship with the 
 keeper of an " early breakfast shop," composed of 
 a long flat wheelbarrow, with a movable awning, 
 which was daily established at early dawn at a 
 corner of Tavistock-square, immediately opposite 
 a solitary plane-tree the favourite resort of my- 
 riads of house-sparrows. Among this host was 
 one female sparrow, between whom and the old 
 man who sold the bread and butter and coffee at 
 this humble caravan, the most friendly and inti- 
 mate relations existed. They every morning break- 
 fasted together ; the bird making herself completely 
 at home, and seeming to believe the whole estab- 
 lishment was maintained for her particular benefit. 
 She had three broods every season, and as soon 
 as her young ones needed food she made larger 
 claims on the good man's stores. 
 
 Every morning came the wheelbarrow, and 
 ever}- morning the sparrow fed herself and brood ; 
 and if the old man, in the dark wintry mornings, 
 were a few minutes behind time, she would go 
 some way to meet him, and with a chirp at meet- 
 ing settle either on or beneath the awning, and
 
 U>8 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 so ride homo. And this was done not once only, 
 but regularly and as often as he was too late. Once 
 only there was a season of estrangement between 
 the two friends. The bird brought down from 
 the tree three of her young, one of which was 
 loo weak to get up again ; and the old man, out of 
 compassion, took the poor little fledgling home 
 with him. Unfortunately it died in the course of 
 the day. A complete change now took place in 
 the conduct of the sparrow. She refused to ap- 
 proach her friend's shop ; in vain he coaxed and 
 called her, tempting her with tit-bits, and trying 
 all his arts to be reconciled. Her former chirp of 
 confidence was changed into a harsh note of re- 
 proach and remonstrance ; and so long did her 
 displeasure last, that the offender began to despair 
 of ever regaining the aifection of his pet. But in 
 due time another brood was hatched, and the 
 mother forgot old griefs in her new joys; the 
 friends were reconciled, and they lived together 
 on the old footing of familiar confidence and 
 goodwill. 
 
 I must own to a special liking for the sparrow. 
 Its attachment to the dwellings of man, the lively 
 and inspiriting sound of its well known " cheer- 
 up," and, in short, the feeling of home connected 
 with it, all form a host of agreeable associations 
 which combine to render the bird dear ; and there
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 199 
 
 is one recollection that it brings to mind, which 
 more than all the rest is cheering, as telling the 
 goodness and providence of God : I mean the 
 allusion made to it by the Saviour, when, for the 
 encouragement of his disciples, he said, " Are not 
 two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of 
 them shall not fall on the ground without your 
 Father. Fear not therefore, ye are of more value 
 than many sparrows."* 
 
 * Matthew x. 29, 31.
 
 200 
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SWALLOWS Their utility Migration The Sand Martin 
 A colony of these birds described The Chimney Swallow 
 and the Martin Their habits and instincts The 
 Ancients and the Swallows Affecting instance of pa- 
 rental affection in a pair of Martins The Swift A 
 denizen of the air Preys upon spiders Migrates early 
 The Night-jar, or Goatsucker This bird the Swallow 
 of the night, or twilight Peculiarities of its confor- 
 mation A moth-hunter A summer's night passed 
 amid the haunts of the Night-jar. 
 
 AMONG the most conspicuous of our summer birds, 
 are the family of the SWALLOWS, birds with whose 
 appearance we associate the idea of winter's 
 departure and summer's approach. Favourites of 
 all, and hailed with delight, these most charming 
 and intelligent birds are of the utmost utility in 
 destroying myriads of our minute winged foes, 
 which without their aid would render the labour 
 of the husbandman comparatively fruitless. They 
 may be considered as the guardians of our fields, 
 and deserve to be everywhere protected. 
 
 In proof of their great value as insect-destroyers,
 
 1. BULFINCH. 2. C'OMMOK MAETIK. 3. COMMON SwlPT.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 203 
 
 Mr. Jesse says that he was informed by a clergy- 
 man of his acquaintance, that in an adjoining 
 parish to his own some young farmers formed 
 themselves into a club for the purpose of practis- 
 ing shooting flying, and they exercised their skill 
 on the swallows which frequented their hop- 
 grounds. The consequence was that the hops 
 were covered with insects and altogether blighted ; 
 while in the same year the hop-grounds in his 
 parish were perfectly free from blight, and produced 
 an abundant crop, he doing all that he could to 
 encourage the swallows. This author suggests 
 that persons having hop-grounds would do well to 
 erect rough buildings in them, with projecting 
 eaves, affording facilities for these birds to build 
 under them. If this expedient were tried he 
 thinks that much of the blight from insects, about 
 which great complaints are made, would not take 
 place. 
 
 The migration of the swallow tribe has been 
 noticed by all observers of the habits of birds. 
 The siibject of the periodical arrival and departure 
 of our migratory birds, is one of deep interest to 
 the lover of natural history, and certainly there is 
 no instinct which seems to act upon them more 
 forcibly, or M r hich is so deeply involved in mystery. 
 
 The times of these Sittings are observed with 
 the most astonishing order and punctuality ; but
 
 204 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 the secresy of their departure and the suddenness 
 of their reappearance have involved the matter 
 generally in great difficulties. As to the causes 
 that induce this habit we are much in the dark ; 
 there are two principal ones usually assigned, 
 namely, the want of food, and the want of a proper 
 temperature of air and convenient places for the 
 great work of breeding and rearing their young. 
 But though these reasons undoubtedly operate to a 
 large extent, they will not be found to hold good 
 in every instance, when closely inquired into. 
 
 Then, as to the manner in which these surpri- 
 singly long journeys are performed, we may ask 
 many questions which we cannot answer. We do 
 not know by what means they subsist during the 
 period so occupied, nor can we tell why it is that 
 in the case of our summer migrants, the males 
 always precede the other sex in their time of 
 arrival. In short, after all our inquiries into this 
 branch of natural economy, much yet remains to 
 be learned, and we may say, with that delightful 
 naturalist Mr. White, that " whilst we observe 
 with delight with how much ardour and punctual- 
 ity these little birds obey the strong impulse im- 
 printed on their minds by their great Creator, it 
 is with no small degree of mortification we reflect 
 that, after all our pains and inquiries, we are not 
 yet quite certain to what regions they do migrate,
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 205 
 
 aud are still further embarrassed to find that some 
 do not actually migrate at all." 
 
 Some have asserted that swallows do not leave 
 our country, but exist in a torpid state ; and some 
 have even maintained, that they lie at the bottom 
 of lakes and rivers, clustered together. The facts 
 of the case are now well established. They appear 
 in England in April, and are generally all gone by 
 the end of the month of September ; but some of 
 the late broods are not capable of the journey, aud 
 so remain, and are found, either dead, or in a 
 benumbed state, in holes of walls, or under 
 hedges ; partly no doubt, from the cold, and 
 partly from want of food ; but these instances 
 are not common, and will not support the infer- 
 ence, that, if any of them survive, the whole 
 species is preserved in the same manner. 
 
 " Amusive birds ! say, where your hid retreat 
 When the frost rages and the tempests beat ? 
 Whence your return, by such nice instinct led, 
 When spring, sweet season, lifts her blooming head ? 
 Such baffled searches mock man's prying pride, 
 The God of nature is your secret guide." 
 
 Much interest and amusement may be derived 
 from watching and noting the arrival and departure 
 of our migratory birds ; every ornithologist en- 
 deavours to ascertain what species are migratoiy 
 in the district in which he is resident, and to
 
 206 
 
 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 determine, as far as possible, the exact times of 
 their appearance and disappearance. In this 
 manner much valuable information has been col- 
 lected, and data furnished of great importance to 
 the student.* Let none suppose, however, that 
 there is so much on record already upon this and 
 kindred habits of birds, that there is nothing more 
 to be learned. The great naturalist, Kay, has 
 observed, that, so rich is nature, that a man bora 
 a thousand ages hence will still find enough left for 
 him to do and notice,t and the author from Avhom 
 we have just now quoted (White) begins a letter 
 giving an account of that rare bird the stilt-plover, 
 which he had just procured in his own neighbour- 
 hood in these words : " Jt is now more than forty 
 
 * Bishop Stanley gives the annexed short list of a few of 
 the most common of our migratory birds, together with the 
 dates of their appearance and departure as observed by him. 
 
 
 Earliest date of Latest date of 
 
 
 appearance. 
 
 departure- 
 
 Sand Martin - - 
 
 March - 27 
 
 September 21 
 
 Chimney Swallow 
 
 April - 11 October - 20 
 
 Martin - - - 
 
 March - 30 
 
 October - 20 
 
 Swift - 
 
 April - 27 
 
 September 15 
 
 Redstart - - - 
 
 April - 6 
 
 September 5 
 
 Whitethroat - - 
 
 April - 6 
 
 September 8 
 
 Cuckoo - - - 
 
 April - 10 
 
 June - - 30 
 
 Redwing - - - 
 
 September 26 
 
 April - - 3 
 
 Fieldfare - - - 
 
 September 29 
 
 May - 1 
 
 Woodcock - - 
 
 October - 11 
 
 April - - 2 
 
 f ' Philosophical Letters,' p. 35.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 207 
 
 years that I have paid some attention to ornithology 
 in this district without being able to exhaust the 
 subject : new occurrences still arise as long as any 
 inquiries are kept alive." 
 
 There are four British species of swallows. The 
 SAXD MARTIN*, a small brownish bird, by far the 
 least of any of our swallows, comes first, and may 
 be seen early in April hurrying over the surface 
 of large sheets of water or rivers, near which are 
 banks of sandy soil, in which these birds burrow 
 and build their nests.* A colony of sand-martins 
 in considerable numbers, especially when they are 
 forming a settlement, presents a very busy scene. 
 They dig away with great assiduity, using their 
 bills as pickaxes, and shovelling out the sand 
 with their feet, making so deep a burrow that it 
 is not easy to reach the nest ; the entrance, too, is 
 so small, that no bird of prey can gain access, and 
 the steep is, generally, so great, that the small 
 animals which suck eggs are not able to climb it. 
 These birds are no songsters, only making a little 
 harsh noise when any person approaches their 
 nests. 
 
 * It is remarkable that after some years the old holes are 
 left and new ones bored. Perhaps because they become 
 foul from long use, or they may so abound with fleas as to 
 be untenable. This species of swallow is strangely annoyed 
 with fleas.
 
 208 BK1TISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 Next to these appear the CHIMNEY SWALLOW and 
 the MARTIN. The large screaming swallow, or 
 SWIFT, is the last to come and the first to go. 
 These are all insect-eaters, which they capture 
 while they fly. Their wings are very strong and 
 long, and their tails pointed in forks ; so that they 
 can remain the whole day wheeling in the air in 
 pursuit of their prey. Their form is that which 
 has been found to make the fastest sailing-vessel 
 full forwards, and long and tapering backwards. 
 Their feet are small, but these, as well as the stiff 
 points of the tail, and even the edges of their 
 wings, are so formed that they can cling to an 
 upright or even an overhanging surface, if there 
 be roughness for their claws to hold by. Their 
 sight is exceedingly acute, and their bills flat and 
 veiy wide at the base, and curved ; so that they can 
 carry a large supply to their nests for the young. 
 
 Swallows and martins are birds which, like the 
 sparrow, display most strongly social feelings 
 towards man. They invariably attach themselves 
 to our houses ; they claim the shelter of our dwell- 
 ings, and for this purpose pursue us in all 
 quarters of the world and in every latitude. This 
 habit of the swallow has obtained the notice of the 
 Psalmist, who says, " The sparrow hath found an 
 house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where 
 she may lay her young, even thine altars, Lord of
 
 PERCHIXG BIRDS. 209 
 
 hosts."* These birds are, accordingly, privileged ; 
 forbearance is shown towards them, and the boys 
 of England, though alas ! too often they heedlessly 
 inflict suffering on animals, will rarely disturb 
 their nests ; so that, although frequently seen 
 attached to low houses within easy reach, they 
 are generally suffered to hatch and depart in 
 safety. 
 
 The ancients generally mention the swallow as 
 wintering in Africa. It seems to have been as 
 great a favourite with them as it is at the present 
 day. The Grecians welcomed its annual return 
 with gladness ; and the Bhodians had a festival, 
 when the boys carried about young swallows, 
 singing a lively carol, which has been preserved 
 in the works of Meursius : 
 
 " He comes, he comes, who loves to bear 
 Soft sunny hours, and seasons fair ; 
 The swallow hither comes to rest 
 His sable wing, and snowy breast." 
 
 This song the troops of Rhodian children sang in 
 chorus, from door to door, collecting little gifts in 
 return : a pleasing custom. 
 
 There seems to be scarcely any portion of the 
 known world in which swallows are not found in 
 certain seasons of the year, and almost everywhere 
 they have their stated periods of migration and 
 
 * Ps. Ixxxiv. 3. 
 
 P
 
 210 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 reappearance. According to the Greek calendar 
 of Flora, kept by Theophrastus at Athens, the 
 Ornithian winds blow and the swallow comes 
 between the 28th of February, and the 12th of 
 March : the kite and nightingale appear between 
 the llth and 26th of March ; and the cuckoo 
 appears at the time the young figs come out, and 
 thence his name. Among the Greeks, it seems the 
 crane pointed out the time of sowing ; the arrival 
 of the kite, the time of sheepshearing ; and the 
 swallow, the time to put on summer clothes. 
 
 In Sweden, the swallow builds in barns ; and in 
 the warmer parts of Europe, where there are no 
 chimneys, she constructs her nest in porches, gate- 
 ways, and similar situations. Here she prefers to 
 breed in chimneys, and loves to haunt those stacks 
 where there is a constant fire ; doubtless, for the 
 sake of the warmth. Some five or six feet down 
 the chimney, about the middle of May, this little 
 bird begins to make her nest, composed of mud 
 or dirt, shaped something like half a deep dish, 
 and lined within with grasses and feathers. It 
 has been supposed that the object in selecting such 
 an inconvenient situation for building, is, to sectire 
 the young broods from rapacious birds, and par- 
 ticularly owls, which often fall down chimneys, 
 probably in the effort to reach these nestlings. 
 
 The martin nestles in the upper angles of
 
 PEKCHING BIRDS. 211 
 
 windows, and under the eaves of houses ; forming 
 its nest of mud or clay, with a small hole on one 
 side for entrance, and when finished it is frequently 
 occupied by both birds at the same time. The 
 habits of the martin closely resemble those of the 
 swallow, and they, as well as the swift, return to 
 the places, and even to the nests, which they 
 inhabited during previous seasons. There appears 
 ample proof of this, as experiments have been 
 made by marking the birds, which have again and 
 again been found to return to their old haunts. 
 
 HOUSE MARTINS are distinguished from their con- 
 geners by having their legs covered with soft, 
 downy feathers, down to their toes. They are no 
 songsters, but twitter, in a pretty, inward, soft 
 manner, in their nests. 
 
 A touching instance of parental afiection in a pair 
 of martins, is given in " The Zoologist, for 1851." 
 At the time of the autumnal migration, these 
 birds were, unfortunately, engaged in rearing a 
 young brood. They suffered the season to pass 
 away, and remained behind. It was observed 
 that towards the end of October, they became 
 visibly weaker they were seen less frequently, 
 by degrees, and at length they wholly disap- 
 peared. They were forgotten, and their fate 
 unknown, until, in the following spring, a nest 
 was removed from the eaves, containing the skele- 
 
 p 2
 
 212 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 tons of three half-fledged young, and over them 
 those of the two old birds. Thus, faithful to the 
 last, they had perished, a sacrifice to parental 
 love. 
 
 The SWIFT is the largest of our swallow tribe, 
 and perhaps the most powerfully winged, for its 
 size of all our birds. Its whole structure is more 
 adapted to an aerial existence than that of any 
 other bird. Placed on level ground, it is utterly 
 helpless ; but, in the air it is all life. This bird 
 frequents the highest places, and at a considerable 
 elevation haunts the air for food. Its stay with 
 us is short ; it seldom appears before the middle of 
 May, and disappears about the middle of August. 
 It is said that spiders form a very considerable 
 part of the food of the swift. This may seem 
 almost incredible, considering the height at which 
 they seek their prey. The fact is, the air is often 
 filled with small spiders, at a very surprising 
 altitude. Of their quantity some idea may be 
 formed, by the perfect carpeting of webs, occa- 
 sionally seen on an autumnal morning, glistening 
 with moisture. These are the webs of the gossa- 
 mer spiders, whih, weighed by the dew, fall to 
 the ground, and cover whole acres. As the time 
 approaches for the swifts to depart, they congre- 
 gate in large bodies, and appear all day on the 
 wing, in multitudes; gliding, dashing, wheeling,
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 213 
 
 playing numerous antics, joyously screaming to 
 each other, full of energy and life. These meetings 
 continue till towards the middle of August, after 
 which, the birds are no more seen. 
 
 The NIGHT-JAR, or GOATSUCKER, (as it is impro- 
 perly called,) is the night, or twilight swallow, 
 being the only British nocturnal bird, among our 
 summer -visitants. It feeds on night moths and 
 gnats, and hence it prefers moors, heaths, and 
 commons, where these insects abound. It has 
 a row of hairs, or bristles, on the side of the bill, 
 and an enormously wide, gaping mouth, and its 
 eye is large, full, and clear, like the owl's. This 
 bird has also a remarkable peculiarity in the foot. 
 The hinder toe is capable of being reversed, so as 
 to turn forward, with the other three ; which is, 
 probably, an acommodation to its habit of perch- 
 ing lengthways. The middle toe, likewise, is 
 strrated, or toothed probably to aid it in the 
 capture and retention of its quick and active 
 prey. 
 
 The night-jar, is so called from the particular 
 noise it makes, which resembles the sound of a 
 spinning-wheel; and is a compound of hissing 
 and booming. This bird does not arrive till the 
 middle of May ; and departs early in September. 
 When hawking for moths, it flies with its mouth 
 widely extended, making its peculiar noise ; and
 
 21 4 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 but slightly stirring the air with its wings. When 
 rnoth hunting, it glides round and round some 
 tree where these insects are often on the wing, 
 and darting in, captures them, by the aid of its 
 bristles, and the glutinous matter which adheres 
 to its bill, and which is so adhesive, that small 
 insects are retained by it. 
 
 The song of the night-jar is thus described 
 by a naturalist : "It was a fine, warm, summer's 
 night, in June, in a wild part of the country, 
 between Bromley and Chiselhurst, Kent. Night 
 came on, as I reached a beautiful meadow, bounded 
 by a thick wood, and in which the hay was cut, ready 
 for carrying. Here I made a soft, warm, fragrant 
 bed ; and had not rested long, ere sleep overcame 
 me. How long I had slept, I know not ; but, 
 on awaking, my attention was soon drawn to the 
 singular, wild, ringing strain of the night-jar. It 
 resembled, at times, the whirring, rapid rotation 
 of a wheel, now swelling, now diminishing; the 
 sounds intermixed with curring, croaking notes, 
 some of them having a ventriloquial effect Now 
 and then, there was a sharp, unearthly kind of 
 shriek ; presently the same sound seemed issuing 
 from other quarters of the wood, till the whole 
 place was ringing with the wild, nocturnal notes. 
 As daybreak advanced, I could see the birds, (from 
 four to six,) hawking for moths, chasing each other,
 
 PERCHING BIKDS. 215 
 
 and sweeping along with surprising turns and 
 tumblings. I sat, motionless, with my head just 
 above the haycock ; and I saw them well. They 
 were continually snapping at the numerous small 
 moths, which were hovering over the heaps of 
 hay ; opening their wide, toad-like mouths, and 
 gliding, swallow-like, with noiseless, wheeling 
 flight."
 
 216 
 
 PEECHIXG BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The CLIMBING BIEDS The Woodpeckers Their habits and 
 haunts The Green, the Great, and the Lesser spotted 
 Woodpeckers The Green Woodpecker The Wryneck 
 The Nuthatch The Creeper Its diminutiveness, agility, 
 and hardihood The Cuckoo Its strange habit of deposit- 
 ing its egg in the nests of other birds A Cuckoo carrying 
 her egg in her bill Unaccountable attachment of other 
 birds to the Cuckoo Its mode of hunting for food The 
 Bee eater The Hoopoe The Kingfisher" Halcyon days" 
 Parrots Account of Parrots at large in Norfolk 
 Curious anecdote of two Parrots in the Zoological Gardens. 
 
 WE come next, to the CLIMBEKS ; i. e., birds which 
 are remarkable for their power of climbing; for 
 which purpose, most of them are " yoke-toed ;" 
 i. e., have their toes arranged in pairs. 
 
 The WOODPKCKERS are a peculiar family, whose 
 habits are well known. They are shy and retired 
 birds; living in or near woods, and concealing 
 themselves from view, by passing to the side of 
 the tree or branch opposite to the observer. They 
 search the bark of trees for insects, creeping, or 
 climbing along the trunk and stems. Their tongues 
 are capable of great elongation, and are baibed at 
 the end ; and they have a glutinous secretion in
 
 1. GHEEN WOODPECKER. 2. THE. WRYNECK. 3. NUTHATCH. 
 4. COMMON CREEPER.
 
 PEKCHING BIRDS. 219 
 
 their throats, which takes up small insects by 
 adhesion. They live in the holes of trees, some 
 of which they make, or partially enlarge, by the 
 aid of their strong and sharp bills ; and in these 
 holes they deposit their eggs. 
 
 An old tree is everything to the woodpecker, 
 for there he finds food, shelter, and a nursery. 
 There are countless beetles, flies, and grubs, which 
 mine into the old wood, and drill it through and 
 through. For these he digs into the bark with 
 his beak ; but he uses his tongue in drawing them 
 out, as with a hook. When he comes to a hollow 
 place he taps it with his bill, making a noise like 
 the beating of a drum. He utters a noisy, merry 
 note, which has been compared to a laugh, and it 
 is said that this sound is more frequently heard 
 when rain is at hand. Hence, he has been called 
 the rain-bird ; and it is worthy of note that these 
 birds were called by the old Romans Pluvice Aves, 
 for the same reason. 
 
 There are three or four kinds found in this 
 country the green, the great, and the lesser- 
 spotted woodpeckers ; but, with allowance for dif- 
 ference of situation, the habits of all are the same. 
 
 The GBEEN WOODPECKER is the most common, 
 and accordingly the best known among British 
 species, and is found over most of the wooded 
 districts of England and Scotland. Insects of
 
 220 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 various sorts, especially ants and their eggs, form 
 the principal food of this bird, and it is accord- 
 ingly more frequently seen on the ground than 
 any of the others. It is also alleged to be a great 
 enemy to bees. When excavating a hole in a tree 
 for the purpose of nesting, it is said these birds 
 will carry the chips away to a distance, in order 
 that they may not lead to a discovery of their 
 retreat, as other birds are known to carry away 
 the eggshells and offal of their young ones. The 
 green woodpecker makes no nest, but lays its eggs 
 on the loose soft fragments of the decayed wood. 
 It is one of the earliest birds to retire to rest in 
 the afternoon. Besides the name of rain-bird, it 
 has various other provincial appellations, as wood- 
 spite, hew pole, yaffle, whitill, and woodpie, or 
 wood wale. In the popular poem of the " Peacock 
 at Home," the following couplet occurs : 
 
 " The skylark in ecstasy sang from a cloud, 
 And chanticleer crow'd, and the yaffil laugh'd loud." 
 
 The WRYNECK, is a curious and beautiful little 
 bird, which, although it is nearly related to the 
 woodpeckers, is distinct from them. It is a com" 
 mon and well-known summer visitant, arriving 
 iust before the cuckoo ; from which circumstance 
 it has been called " the cuckoo's mate." It lives 
 on insects and small ants, which it finds in abund-
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 221 
 
 ance on the steins and branches of trees, and 
 captures with its tongue, which it can protrude 
 at least an inch, and then draw in with the 
 rapidity of lightning. When it is thus engaged, 
 whether on a tree or the ground, its body is 
 motionless, but its head is continually moving 
 from side to side, and twining with a serpentine 
 action, whence its name ; and it is also called in 
 some counties, the snake-bird. 
 
 Without any rich or brilliant colour in its plu- 
 mage, the wryneck is still a handsome bird, from 
 the singularly beautiful manner in which the 
 various markings and the shades of brown and 
 gray are mingled. It is solitary in its habits, 
 being very seldom seen with any other bird than 
 its own mate, and that but a limited portion of 
 the year. The young are easily tamed, and are 
 great favourites with boys in this country, but 
 more particularly so in France, where it is cus- 
 tomary to tie a piece of string to one of the legs 
 of the bird, and carrying it from one tree to 
 another to allow it to search the bark for insects, 
 and when brought back by the string, it climbs 
 with equal facility over any part of their clothes. 
 The female bird is rather larger than the male. 
 The note is a sharp sound repeated several times, 
 and not unlike the whistle of the kestril. 
 
 The NUT HATCH, and the TREE CREEPER are two
 
 222 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 of the climbing birds, which attract attention in 
 the woods.* The former is a small grayish, blue- 
 backed bird, which runs and creeps, more like a 
 mouse than a bird, when climbing the branches ; 
 and may be heard rapping away with all its force, 
 high up in the trees, either examining the bark 
 for insects, or busily engaged in hammering nuts 
 to pieces, which it manages by first adroitly fixing 
 the nut in some crevice of the bark, and then 
 striking it with all its might, breaking the shell, 
 and catching up the kernel before it falls. It is 
 a great favourite with observers, is resident here 
 all the year, and frequents woods and plantations 
 in the winter, being sometimes seen in orchards 
 and gardens. 
 
 The actions of this bird are very interesting. 
 Like the other true climbers, it builds in holes ; 
 if the external hole is large the nut hatch plasters 
 up part of it with mud ; and if the plastering be 
 removed, the bird almost invariably renews it 
 the first or second day. As it has frequent and 
 obstinate battles with some of the titmice for the 
 possession of a favourite locality for nesting, this 
 may be the reason for this proceeding, since the 
 smallest breach is most easily defended. In refer- 
 ence to this habit of working with plaster, one of 
 
 * They are not yoke-toed, and are without the extensile 
 tongue of the wryneck and woodpecker.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 223 
 
 the names given to this bird in France is pic-ma^on. 
 Birdnesting boys when they find a hole that has 
 been recently plastered are almost certain of find- 
 ing it tenanted. 
 
 The nuthatch hides nuts, probably for a supply 
 in hard times, because its food consists entirely of 
 those kinds that are only to be had otherwise at 
 certain seasons. One of these birds was seen in 
 the act of concealing a nut. It flew past a window 
 with a large nut in its bill, which it proceeded to 
 fix into several crevices in the dry ground, where 
 it could get a purchase, but after repeated blows, 
 which failed in cracking the shell, it appeared to 
 give the matter up as hopeless. It was then ob- 
 served to carry the nut a yard or two, and push 
 it by main force into a crevice near the area, and 
 then catching up two or three pieces of moss care, 
 fully and completely to cover it with them, which 
 done, it flew away. 
 
 It is resident here all the year, approaching 
 orchards and gardens in the winter, but is not 
 equally numerous in every district. 
 
 The little creeper, also, like the nuthatch, glides 
 up and down the stems of trees. It is a most 
 interesting little creature, and with the exception 
 of the golden-crested wren, is the smallest of 
 the British birds. So light is it, that the most 
 slender twig will bear it, and it runs over the
 
 22* BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 branches in all directions, not only upwards and 
 downwards, and across the perpendicular trunks, 
 but with its back undermost, on the lower side of 
 branches, with incredible rapidity. Its object is 
 to pick out of the little crevices of the bark those 
 minute insects and their eggs which are passed 
 over by the larger birds ; and as the active little 
 being visits all places, woods, copses, hedgerows, 
 shrubberies, gardens and orchards, it saves us many 
 a fruit and flower and shoot, which would other- 
 wise have fallen a victim to the canker. 
 
 These minute creatures are abroad in the hardest 
 frosts and deepest snows. They appear to be but 
 little affected by cold ; and as they find their food 
 on the trunks of trees, which are uncovered when 
 the tree itself is mantled in snow, they have 
 their table ready spread at all seasons, when many 
 other birds perish or save themselves by flight. 
 They show great sagacity in their mode of pro- 
 ceeding when busied in an orchard, seldom ascend- 
 ing higher than the boughs ; and by some singular 
 instinct they distinguish those they have once 
 examined, and rarely, if ever, visit them a second 
 time. 
 
 The CUCKOO is a well known and most curious 
 bird, and has always been a subject of much 
 interest and inquiry to the ornithologist. Every 
 one has heard his unique and peculiar note, sound-
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 225 
 
 ing clear and strong in the woods. The bird itself 
 may be easily Seen flying hurriedly, and apparently 
 heavily, from one tree to another, usually followed 
 by a few small birds in its train. The various 
 stages of its progress, during its sojourn here, 
 have been also noted in the popular couplet : 
 
 " In April, coine he will ; 
 
 In May, he sings all day ; 
 
 In June, he alters his tune ; 
 
 In July, he prepares to fly 
 
 Come August, go he must." 
 
 Singular as the cry of this bird is, still more 
 singular is its strange, unnatural habit of leaving 
 other birds to take care of its young. That this 
 is the case has been proved by numerous instances. 
 Not only have the eggs of the cuckoo been found 
 in the nests of many of the smaller birds, but the 
 young cuckoo has been seen to turn out the law- 
 ful progeny of its foster parents, and the latter, 
 (strangest of all) to feed the intruder with eager- 
 ness, apparently regardless, or unwitting of the fate 
 of their own young. The nests usually chosen by 
 the cuckoo to deposit her eggs in, are those of the 
 hedge-sparrow, the wagtail, the titlark, the yellow 
 hammer, and various others ; but the hedge-sparrow 
 seems preferred to any. The smallness of .the 
 cuckoo's egg, in proportion to the size of the 
 
 Q
 
 226 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 bird, is a singular circumstance, and seems to 
 favour this mysterious instinct. 
 
 It does not appear that any one has actually 
 seen the cuckoo deposit an egg ; so that we have 
 had only conjectures as to the way in which it is 
 done. It was supposed, from analogy, probably, 
 that she carried it in her bill, and dropped it into 
 the nest ; and this idea secerns confirmed by an 
 instance mentioned in "The Zoologist, for 1851." 
 A person shooting on the banks of the Norwich 
 river, on the 14th of April, in that year, saw a 
 flying cuckoo, which was carrying something 
 in its bill. He followed the bird in a boat, and 
 saw it alight on a meadow. Approaching it within 
 twenty yards, he perceived it crawling like a parrot, 
 along the side of a drain, still carrying something 
 in its beak. After a time, the bird stopped short, 
 when he fired and killed it. On examination, 
 it proved to be an egg, which the cuckoo was 
 carrying ; and it seems highly probable that she 
 was in the act of searching for a nest in which 
 to deposit it. 
 
 There is another strange fact connected with 
 this mysterious business. Not only is the little 
 hedge-sparrow induced to regard an enormous, 
 ravenous cuckoo, as her own dear little one, but 
 the young cuckoo seems to have a strange power 
 over the affections of other birds, whose assistance
 
 1. BE3 EATER. 2. HOOPOE. 3. C0CKOO. 4. KINGFISHER.
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 229 
 
 it requires. A young cuckoo was taken from the 
 nest, and put in a cage with a young thrush, which 
 could feed itself. In a short time the latter was 
 observed to undertake the task of feeding its com- 
 panion, and it continued to do so with the most 
 assiduous attention, and every mark of affection, 
 seeming always ready to drop food into the vora- 
 cious throat of the young monster. The common 
 wagtail, the hedge-sparrow, and the titlark, have 
 been repeatedly seen following young cuckoos, 
 and feeding them, in the months of June and 
 July in successive summers. 
 
 It has been supposed by some, that the small 
 birds follow the cuckoo in the way they do, for 
 the sake of annoyance, as they will a sparrow- 
 hawk. But their behaviour is wholly different 
 in the two cases. The attendance on the cuckoo 
 is at a distance, silent and respectful ; whereas, in 
 the other instance, there is a hue and cry raised, 
 which annoys and discomfits the culprit. " The 
 lesser birds are mightily taken up with a cuckoo," 
 was the remark of an old bird-stuffer ; and his 
 accuracy of observation in this, as in other points, 
 is borne out by facts, for which, however, no one 
 is able to account. This strange irregularity is 
 doubtless ordained by the Creator for a wise pur 
 pose ; and we may safely conclude that the exemp- 
 tion of the cuckoo from what are the severest
 
 230 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 labours of other birds nest-building, and rearing 
 their young answers some useful end in the 
 economy of nature. 
 
 The cuckoo feeds on insects and their cater- 
 pillars, and as these are highly injurious to trees, 
 it doubtless does great service. It beats for its 
 food in the trees, and it is probable that its 
 peculiar feet, long wings and tail, and soft plum- 
 age, enable it to hunt among the leaves, in places 
 where other insect-eating birds cannot reach. 
 Judging by the young bird, the cuckoo is a raven- 
 ous eater; for it requires more labour to feed a 
 single one of them, than to raise a whole brood of 
 the species into whose nests they intrude. 
 
 The BEE-EATER is so rare a bird in England, that 
 it can scarcely be considered British. It is most 
 gorgeous in the richness of its colouring ; brilliant, 
 in blue and green shades, and tinged with beau- 
 tiful iridescent hues. It is about the size of the 
 thrush, and takes its food on the wing, living 
 chiefly on winged insects, particularly those of the 
 bee kind. In Egypt this bird is called " bee's- 
 enemy." 
 
 The HOOPOE is a singular looking, but very 
 beautiful bird, and comes a straggler to our isles ; 
 occasionally breeding here, but disappearing at 
 the end of the summer. It finds its food some- 
 what as the creeper and nuthatch do ; and builds
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 231 
 
 in holes of trees, or of rocks. The most remark- 
 able characteristic of this bird's appearance is 
 its crest, consisting of two rows of orange feathers, 
 tipped with black; usually falling backwards on 
 its neck, except when the bird is surprised or 
 irritated, and then it stands erect. 
 
 The KINGFISHER, or HALCYON, rivalling, if not 
 exceeding, the beauty of the bee-eater in its 
 plumage, is also much more common. Most of us 
 may have seen it, shooting meteor-like across a 
 brook; a bright green line alone seeming to 
 mark its course. It has been compared to a gleam 
 of a broken rainbow, darting along near the sur- 
 face of the waters ; and indeed, one is almost at a 
 loss whether to think it a meteor or a bird, and 
 when seen, as it perches on some slender twig 
 overhanging the water, it resembles the gay flower 
 of a rare and curious water-plant. 
 
 This bird fishes wholly by the sight; and as 
 his prey is small, he requires to see it very clearly ; 
 hence, it is only at particular spots, and in peculiar 
 states of weather, that he can carry on his opera- 
 tions with success. The water must be clear and 
 smooth, the atmosphere most transparent, and the 
 surface of the brook glassy. These are genuine 
 " halcyon days," on which the kingfisher is out and 
 active ; and hence the wondrous powers ascribed 
 to this bird by the older naturalists and poets,
 
 232 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 who believed that it had marvellous influence in 
 quelling the storm, and subduing the tempest's 
 rage. 
 
 " May halcyons smooth the waves, and calm the seas." 
 
 The kingfisher nestles in some hole in the bank, 
 where, having seized the favourable occasion to 
 obtain an abundant supply of food, and gorged 
 himself to the very throat, he retreats, and dozes 
 and digests. To this place he continues perman- 
 ently attached, and is not to be driven away from 
 it, even by the plundering of his nest: The young 
 birds are very clamorous for food, and consume a 
 large quantity. They have been taken from the 
 nest, and brought up, being supplied with small 
 fish ; and their powers and modes of proceeding 
 have never failed to interest the observer. The 
 stronger will kill the weaker, even to the last bird, 
 unless care be taken to separate them. 
 
 The PARROTS are an extensive family of true 
 climbers, divided into numerous sections ; but as 
 none of them inhabit our country they do not 
 come within our limits, and they are merely 
 mentioned for the purpose of saying that in 
 " The Zoologist, for 1855," there is an interesting 
 account headed, "Parrots at large in Norfolk;" 
 stating that in a wood in the neighbourhood of 
 Cromer, there are living thirteen American par-
 
 PERCHING BIRDS. 233 
 
 rots, (two of the Amazon, and eleven of the 
 Carolina breed,) entirely at liberty, but fed at 
 regular hours, much in the same way as pigeons. 
 They are very hardy, and remain abroad all day, 
 and, during the summer, at night also ; in the 
 winter sheltering within doors ; though even in 
 the severest weather flying abroad for at least a 
 part of the day. During the autumn, they feed 
 themselves entirely on beech-nuts and acorns. 
 They are described as very tame and sociable, and 
 much improved in health and plumage since they 
 have been allowed to go at large. 
 
 Mr. J. H. Gurney has communicated to the 
 same periodical, a very curious incident observed 
 by himself, while visiting the Zoological Gardens, 
 in Eegent's Park, in 1850. He saw inhabiting 
 the same cage, a very large white cockatoo and a 
 much smaller green parrot. The parrot being 
 offered a nut, took it ; but, without endeavouring 
 to crack it himself, he immediately carried it to 
 the cockatoo, and transferred it from its own bill 
 to the more powerful one of his neighbour, who 
 forthwith cracked it, and then divided the kernel ; 
 swallowing half himself and honestly returning 
 the remainder to the parrot. This was repeated 
 at least half-a-dozen times.
 
 234 
 
 ORDER III. RASORES. 
 SCRAPERS, OR POULTRY TRIBE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE GALLINACEOUS BIRDS, or Poultry tribe. PIGEONS 
 Emblems of Peace and Love Held sacred among the 
 Russians One of the largest and most generally diffused 
 of all birds British doves Their habits and food Four 
 Britisli species The Ring-dove The Stock-dove The 
 Rock-dove Effect of music on a Pigeon Description of 
 this bird in the Isles of the Hebrides The Turtle-dove 
 Countless multitudes of the Passenger-pigeon in America 
 M. Audubon's account of a vast flock of them Domestic 
 Pigeons and their varieties Instances of power of speed 
 in the Carrier-pigeon A flight of three thousand miles. 
 
 WE have now arrived at the third order of birds, 
 (the RASORES, SCRAPERS, or GALLINACEOUS birds,) most 
 of which obtain the principal part of their food 
 upon the ground. Among them are found those 
 most useful to man, especially in a domesticated 
 state. 
 
 The PIGEONS, as they resemble, in some respects, 
 the perching birds, have been placed in immediate 
 succession to them. 
 
 These birds have universally attracted the 
 attention of man ; and been chosen as emblems 
 of all that is gentle, loving, and virtuous. " It 
 was a dove (ever since sacred to peace) that
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 235 
 
 brought the olive-branch to the ark of Noah ; for 
 which she has her place among the constellations 
 of heaven ; and the dove, in mystic emblem, 
 shadows forth the Comforter, the Holy Ghost." 
 
 There are some qualities peculiar to them, which 
 seem to justify this interest. Pigeons of all kinds 
 are supposed to be especially faithful in their loves. 
 The pair evince a mutual attachment and fidelity,, 
 which (notwithstanding their disposition to flock) 
 we have reason to believe they preserve through 
 life. Their apparent fondness for each other, 
 manifested by saluting with their bills, and 
 murmuring (or cooing) notes of pleasure ; their 
 habits in tending their young ; combined with the 
 beauty and grace of their appearance, and the soft 
 plaintive sound of their voices, all unite to give 
 them a special interest to the lover of nature, and 
 are suggestive of innocence, purity, and tender- 
 ness. Accordingly, we find that doves were 
 sacred among the priests of antiquity ; and in the 
 present day the same feeling in favour of these crea- 
 tures is observable in many countries. A writer 
 in the fourth volume of " The Naturalist," says, 
 " The common pigeon swarms in the city of Peters- 
 burg and the country : it is esteemed sacred, and 
 called God's bird by the Eussians, from the cir- 
 cumstance of the Holy Spirit assuming that form 
 when descending upon our Saviour. To kill and
 
 236 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 eat it, is considered an act of profanation. I had 
 one day an opportunity of observing, myself, how 
 the respect for the pigeon prevails amongst the 
 lower orders. I shot six away from a village, at 
 one shot, and brought them home with the inten- 
 tion of making a pigeon-pie ; when I threw them 
 on the table, a Eussian servant who was near, 
 after several ejaculations against my impiety and 
 cruelty, snatched up one of the dead birds, and, 
 bursting into tears, commenced kissing and fond- 
 ling it." 
 
 These beautiful birds abound in most of the 
 temperate and tropical regions of the earth, being, 
 however, far more numerous and more gor- 
 geously attired in the latter, where they some- 
 times literally realize the beautiful picture given 
 by the psalmist; "As the wings of a dove 
 covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow 
 gold !" The genus " Colurnba " is, indeed, one of 
 the largest and most universally diffused of all 
 the feathered tribes ; being found in all quarters 
 of the globe, and almost every island of the sea. 
 Our British groves are made musical by its 
 voice. 
 
 "Where, o'er his own sweet notes, the ring-dove broods." 
 
 Doves feed more exclusively on vegetables than 
 almost any other birds. They do not even feed
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 237 
 
 their young on insects, as many do. They are 
 provided with the means of adapting the food they 
 eat to the tender stomachs of their fledglings. 
 
 All birds which feed much on vegetable matter, 
 have a portion of the gullet capable of enlarge- 
 ment, so as to hold a considerable quantity of 
 food ; this is called the craw, or crop. In doves, 
 there is a peculiar substance secreted in the crop, 
 in appearance not unlike curd, and somewhat 
 answering to milk in quadrupeds. This is mixed 
 with the food given by the parent birds to their 
 twin brood (for there are but two, usually a male 
 and a female) not, as is usually done, from the 
 bill ; but they put their own beak fairly into that 
 of the young one, and force up and deliver the 
 already half-digested food, by a peculiar action of 
 the gullet. But, though these birds are princi- 
 pally vegetable eaters, they also pick up insects 
 and various kinds of snails, which they swallow, 
 generally shell and all. They are partial to salt. 
 
 We have four species of dove found wild in 
 Britain. The RING and the STOCK DOVE are both 
 resident inhabitants of the woods. The ROCK DOVE 
 dwells in rocks, near the sea; and the TURTLE 
 DOVE is a summer visitant of the woods, and 
 found only in some localities ; the latter being the 
 only true DOVE (scientifically) as distinguished 
 from the PIGEONS.
 
 238 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 The RING DOVE is considerably the largest of the 
 order, and is most generally distributed over ihe 
 country. It takes its name from the circle of 
 white feathers round its neck, and is also called 
 the wood-pigeon, the cushat, and the queest the 
 last name having reference to the plaintive tones 
 of its voice. It may be heard, almost incessantly, 
 in the months of March and April, in thick woods 
 and plantations of fir-trees, in which it delights to 
 build. It commits serious ravages on most kinds 
 of agricultural produce, especially peas. Between 
 seed-time and harvest flocks of these birds are 
 seen, half -buried in the long grass of pastures, 
 foraging for food. When the wheat is in ear, they 
 are terribly destructive, settling down on the 
 corn, and picking out quantities of the milky 
 grain. In winter they attack the field-cabbages 
 and turnips; and in spring, the clover fields, 
 picking out the " eyes," or central leaves of the 
 plants. 
 
 Overlooking these pillaging propensities they 
 are pleasing and ornamental inhabitants of our 
 woodland districts; and no sounds are more 
 soothing than the low, soft, plaintive notes of the 
 males, as they may be heard serenading their 
 mates in some fine old wood during the tranquil 
 calm of the summer's evening. 
 
 The whole form and appearance of this bird is
 
 POULTKY TRIBE. 239 
 
 fine, combining elegance and vigour ; and the 
 colouring of its plumage is also beautiful. Like 
 the pigeons, generally, it has great powers of 
 flight ; in cold weather flying in flocks, sometimes 
 consisting of hundreds, feeding in company during 
 the day, and roosting at night in thick plantations 
 of high trees. They are in considerable estimation 
 as an article of food, and much pains have been 
 taken to domesticate this species ; but in vain, 
 the bird will not breed in a domesticated state, 
 nor live in it, unless by force. 
 
 The STOCK DOVE is a smaller species than the 
 ring-dove. It inhabits woods, but is a less nume- 
 rous species ; it is a roaming bird, and migrates 
 in large flocks. Its note is a low rumbling sound, 
 quite unlike the cooing of the preceding one. It 
 builds in the hollows of old trees ; and not unfre- 
 quently makes its nest in holes in the ground ; 
 sometimes selecting a rabbit's burrow for the 
 purpose. 
 
 The ROCK DOVE is the species from which our 
 domestic pigeon, with its numerous varieties, is 
 descended. These birds choose high cliffs and 
 recesses of the rocks to dwell and nestle in, and 
 never perch on trees. They are met with in 
 England ; but are limited to particular parts of 
 the coast, and never come inland. Hambro' 
 Head, and a few similar localities, are their only
 
 240 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 British habitats. Their food consists principally 
 of grain and seeds, and they also eat several 
 species of snail shells. There is a proverb which 
 says, " whiten the pigeon-house, and the pigeons 
 will come ;" meaning, that by cleanliness and good 
 housewifery friends are drawn to you. It is, how- 
 ever, literally true, that a whitened pigeon-house is 
 preferred by the birds. The reason for this is sup- 
 posed to be that they like the lime, which is useful to 
 them, their eggs being composed partly of car- 
 bonate of lime, and it is for this substance, 
 doubtless, that they generally frequent chalk cliffs. 
 
 A singular anecdote of the effect of music on a 
 pigeon, is related by John Lockman, in some 
 reflections concerning operas prefixed to his 
 musical drama of Eosalinda. He was staying at a 
 friend's house whose daughter was a fine per- 
 former on the harpsichord, and observed a pigeon, 
 which, whenever the young lady played the song 
 of " Speri-si," in Handel's opera of Admetus, would 
 descend from a neighbouring dove-house to the 
 window of the room in which she sat, and listen 
 to it, apparently with the utmost attention and 
 pleasure. When the song was finished, the bird 
 always returned immediately to the dove-house, 
 paying no attention to any other music which was 
 played. 
 
 Whether on the rock or in the pigeon-house,
 
 POULTRY TEIBE. 241 
 
 these birds are gregarious, flocking together all 
 the year round; and to whatever distance they 
 may range during the day, they invariably return 
 at night. Very wonderful is the instinct which 
 enables these creatures, notwithstanding the 
 height at which they fly, their passing over the 
 sea where there are no marks to guide their 
 course, and all the extent and variety of their 
 range, to return with such unvarying certainty 
 to the place whence they set out. 
 
 He who would see this dove to perfection, must 
 go to nature's own pigeon-house among the cliffs 
 and waves of the Hebrides. " There," says Mr. 
 Mudie, " on some glittering day, when the meri- 
 dian sun lulls birds and breezes into repose, you 
 row swiftly but silently into the portal of some 
 giant cave which rises aloft toward mid-heaven; 
 and while you are contemplating silent nature, 
 the rowers suddenly lift their oars, and dash them 
 against the sides of the boat. The echo is loud ; 
 but the sound of the wings which it wakens into 
 action is louder still ; it is as though the hollowed 
 and craggy isle were falling to pieces about you, 
 and the wide Atlantic were heaving and vibrating 
 to its most distant shore." 
 
 The TURTLE DOVE is the smallest British species. 
 It is a summer visitor, arriving in May, and 
 departing at the approach of autumn. It is not 
 
 B
 
 242 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 generally diffused, and is said to be most abundant 
 in the thickly-wooded parts of Kent. This species 
 utters a peculiarly plaintive, even mournful note ; 
 and in addressing his mate, the male makes use of 
 a variety of winning gestures, cooing at the same 
 time in the most soothing and gentle accents. 
 Hence it has been ever regarded as the perfect 
 emblem of connubial attachment and constancy. 
 
 In reference to the peculiar character of its 
 voice, sportsmen, while they speak of a flight of 
 pigeons, also say, a dule of turtles, a term derived 
 from the Latin word ddeo, to mourn. 
 
 These are all the native pigeons of our isles. 
 Few persons have any idea, from what they see 
 of these birds here, what is their countless in- 
 crease and abundance, in other parts of the world. 
 The grand places for them are between tne 
 Oriental Archipelago and New Holland, and be- 
 tween the northern and central parts of America. 
 The most startling accounts are given of the 
 myriads of them often beheld in North America, 
 especially of the species called the passenger, or 
 migratory pigeon.* Flocks extending miles in 
 length, and for days together, have been known 
 to pass over the hills during the spring from the 
 southward. M. Audubon the great American 
 
 * This species has been killed in England, though very 
 rarely.
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 243 
 
 ornithologist, in describing what he himself wit- 
 nessed, confesses that he can scarcely believe what 
 he relates is fact. 
 
 He was travelling iu 1813, when he came into 
 the track of an immense flock ; " While I travelled 
 on (he says) I met still more as I proceeded. 
 The air was literally filled with pigeons; the 
 light of noonday was obscured as by an eclipse ; 
 the dung fell in spots, not unlike melting flakes 
 of snow, and the continued buzz of wings, had a 
 tendency to lull my senses to repose." Heaven 
 has wisely and graciously given to these birds 
 rapidity of flight and a disposition to range over 
 vast tracts of the earth, otherwise they must have 
 devoured the whole produce of agriculture or 
 perished in the districts they inhabited ; and thus 
 we have exemplified the truth of the Psalmist's 
 words, ' The eyes of all wait upon thee ; and thou 
 givest them their meat in due season.' "* 
 
 DOMESTIC PIGEONS are a study of themselves ; the 
 principal ones are the barbary, the biset, the 
 carrier, the crested, the helmet, the horseman, the 
 jacobine, the laced, the Norway, the rough-footed, 
 the shakers, the smiter, the spot, the tumbler, the 
 turbit, the turner, besides a countless number of 
 mixed breeds. 
 
 Of these the carrier is the most deserving of 
 * Psalm lii., cxlv, 15.
 
 244 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 notice, having been made use of in very early 
 times, as the means of conveying intelligence. 
 The historian Diodoms Siculus above two thou- 
 sand years ago speaks of them as being employed 
 for this purpose. And about five hundred years 
 since relays of carrier-pigeons formed part of a 
 telegraph system adopted by the Turks. 
 
 Many examples of power and speed in these 
 birds, and of the certainty with which they return 
 from incredible distances to the place where they 
 were bred, are on record. These wonderful powers 
 have been made use of both in war and commerce, 
 and the most extraordinary instance we know of 
 is that of a carrier-pigeon despatched by Captain 
 Sir John Eoss from his winter quarters in 1850, 
 which actually reached its home near Ayr, in 
 Scotland, in five days. Sir John took with him 
 four of these pigeons belonging to a lady residing 
 in Ayrshire, intending to liberate two of them 
 when he should go into winter quarters and the 
 other two when he should have discovered Sir J. 
 Franklin. A pigeon made its appearance at the 
 dovecote in Ayrshire, on the 13th October, which 
 the lady recognised by marks that left no doubt 
 on her mind of its identity. It bore no billet, but 
 there were indications of one having been torn 
 from under the wing. 
 
 Lieutenant Osborne, in his " Stray Loaves from
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 245 
 
 an Arctic Journal," gives the details of the despatch 
 of these birds from Assistance Harbour. The 
 opinion prevalent in the squadron was that the 
 poor little creatures would be frozen to death, as 
 the wind was blowing fresh from the north-west 
 and the temperature below zero. The two birds 
 duly freighted with intelligence were put in a 
 basket which was attached to a balloon in such a 
 manner that after the combustion of a certain 
 quantity of match the pigeons would be launched 
 into the air to commence their flight. In about a 
 hundred and fifty hours one of the two, as verified 
 by the lady, reached its home. This marvellous 
 flight of three thousand miles is the longest on 
 record. Of course it is unknown how far the bird 
 was carried by the balloon, and when or where 
 liberated; which would depend on the strength 
 and direction of the gale by which the machine 
 was carried along. 
 
 As my readers may probably like to have the 
 "latest news" of the pigeon world, I will give 
 them the history of a " pigeon express " that 
 carried the news of the capture of Sebastopol to 
 Colombo the capital of Ceylon. 
 
 This town is situated seventy-two miles from 
 the port of Galles, at which the steamers touch. 
 About five years ago the idea was originated of 
 employing carrier pigeons to bear despatches from
 
 246 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 the coast to the seat of government; and from 
 that time to the present these messengers have 
 continued to perform the office assigned to them. 
 The road being almost a straight line, the birds 
 usually accomplish the passage of the seventy-two 
 miles (well laden with manuscript and printed 
 slips) in from one to two hours. As soon as they 
 arrive a special flag is hoisted to announce the 
 event, and every one hastens to the office to hear 
 the overland news. 
 
 It may be well supposed that the war intel- 
 ligence had been most eagerly awaited ; and when 
 the despatch announcing the details of the fall of 
 Sebastopol so full of joy and grief for multitudes 
 reached the capital of the distant colony of 
 Ceylon, great was the excitement. Orders were 
 immediately issued by the commander-in-chief, for 
 a royal salute to be fired in honour of the event, 
 which was done accordingly on the faith of intel- 
 ligence transmitted by no more regular channel 
 than the carrier pigeons of the Colombo Observer 
 office. 
 
 The natives of Ceylon quite appreciate the 
 value of these news-bearing birds, and when 
 occasionally the pigeons go astray, driven out of 
 their course by a strong wind, or bewildered by 
 rainy or hazy weather, they are almost invariably 
 caught and sent to the Observer office by the people.
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 247 
 
 The mode in which the despatch is fastened to 
 the bird is this ; the paper is rolled tightly to 
 about the size of a quill ; it is then doubled up 
 and tied round with thread, a loop being left 
 through which a piece of soft cord is run. The 
 cord is then tied gently just above the claw, and 
 the despatch hangs down. It cannot slip off; and 
 the instant the bird is let go, both leg and despatch 
 are drawn up under the plumage, and the docu- 
 ment is so perfectly protected from the weather, 
 that even the heaviest rains of the tropics through 
 which the birds occasionally have to pass, scarcely 
 affect the paper.* 
 
 * In the " Illustrated News," for February 2nd, 1856, this 
 account is given, together with a picture representing the 
 scene on the reception of the Pigeon Express bringing the 
 news of the capture of Sebastopol at the capital of Ceylon.
 
 248 
 
 SCRAPERS ; OB, POULTRY TRIBE. 
 CHAPTER H. 
 
 The PHEASAITT Its origin Naturalized in England and 
 protected by law Food and habits of this bird Pugnacity 
 of the Cock Pheasant Account of the "crowing" of 
 Pheasants The Ringed Pheasant The Golden, the 
 Silver, the Argus, and the Impey Pheasant. 
 
 THE PHEASANT. This splendid, well-known inha- 
 bitant of our woods is generally supposed to have 
 come originally from the banks of the Phasis, a 
 river of ancient Colchis, which falls into the 
 easternmost part of the Black Sea ; but the time 
 of the introduction of this bird into our island 
 seems to be quite unknown. It is now extensively 
 spread throughout the greater part of Asia and 
 Europe. With us it is naturalized and generally 
 distributed over England, but is rare in Scotland. 
 Its favourite haunts are woods, where it is a more 
 than half-tame bird ; and indeed it comes like 
 our barn-door fowls at all hours of the day to be 
 fed, and where not disturbed, roosts in trees close 
 to our habitations. 
 
 By the laws of England the pheasant is con- 
 sidered " game," and sportsmen must take out a
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 249 
 
 licence from government to be permitted to shoot 
 it. Its preservation is considered to be owing to 
 the vast care and expense bestowed upon it by 
 our great landed proprietors, by whom it is held 
 in high estimation not only on account of its 
 beauty but also because of its interest to the 
 sportsman. At the same time the price it com- 
 mands as an article of food makes it a tempting 
 object to the lawless pursuit of the poacher. 
 
 The pheasant commences laying in April, and 
 hatches its young towards the end of May. Its 
 principal food is grain and seeds, and it is fond of 
 acorns and various berries and green plants. Mr. 
 Selby mentions that the root of the common 
 buttercup is much sought after by the pheasant, 
 and forms a great portion of its food during the 
 months of May and June. Boiled potatoes and 
 beans are the best nourishment for it in the 
 winter. 
 
 These birds have certain habits which make 
 them an easy prey to the poacher. The never- 
 failing morning and evening notice which they 
 give by their crowing and whistling discover 
 their roosting-places. They are also in some 
 respects stupid birds, and on being roused will 
 often perch on a neighbouring tree and fix their 
 attention so wholly on the dogs that the sports- 
 man may approach very near without observation.
 
 250 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 But old cock-pheasants are said to " gain wisdom 
 by experience," and to have recourse to many 
 stratagems to effect their escape when they find 
 themselves to be pursued. The hen appears to 
 trust to her quiet brown-hued plumage to shun 
 detection, and she will squat in any bit of long 
 grass that is near at hand, often surprising and 
 startling the young sportsman by bouncing up 
 with a whirring noise close against his feet, and 
 not unseldom owing her safety to this fact. 
 
 The ordinary weight of a male pheasant is about 
 two pounds and a half, but when well preserved 
 and highly fed they have been known to exceed 
 four pounds. They are then plumper and fatter 
 than barn door fowls, and exceedingly rich in 
 plumage. Mr. Warburton makes this complaint 
 against his pheasants that they deprived him of 
 the gratification he used to enjoy in listening to 
 the lively chirp of the grasshoppers ; " they have 
 completely exterminated this merry charmer in 
 my park," he says. 
 
 The pheasant sometimes becomes extremely 
 pugnacious in disposition, as the following facts 
 will show. Not far from a large wood there was 
 a farm-house at which game fowls were kept, 
 who roosted at night in an oak tree close by the 
 borders of the wood. One morning the cock, a 
 fine young bird, was found under his perch dead,
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 251 
 
 considerably beaten, his plumage ruffled, and his 
 feathers smeared with blood. An older bird of the 
 same breed was procured to take his place, who 
 soon shared the same fate, and a third also. At 
 length the owner of the fowls, vexed at these 
 repeated losses, and unable to account for them, 
 bought a large, strong, courageous bird, and armed 
 him with sharp steel spurs. Next morning, be- 
 neath the oak tree, there was found lying dead, 
 not the cock, but his vanquished foe, a large, well 
 fed, old cock- pheasant. 
 
 Mr. Knox, in his " Game-birds and wild-fowl," 
 gives the following striking account of the " crow- 
 ing" of pheasants. "The habit of crowing, in- 
 dulged in at all hours of the day during the breed- 
 ing season, is not restricted to the purposes of love 
 or the hour of rest. The same note is uttered on 
 quitting the perch at early dawn ; and the sound 
 of thunder or distant cannon never fails to produce 
 it. How often have I heard it elicited by the 
 booming of the Portsmouth guns, though at a dis- 
 tance of thirty miles, when the weather was calm 
 or the wind in a favourable quarter. 
 
 But the most remarkable instance of this kind 
 that ever came under my notice occurred on tho 
 llth March, 1850. It was a clear sunny day, the 
 air cold and frosty with a gentle breeze from the 
 north-east. I had been riding through Charlton
 
 252 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 forest and had just begun to descend the northern 
 slope of the downs by a rugged path above the 
 village of Grafiham, when I halted a moment to 
 admire the magnificent panoramic view that here 
 suddenly bursts upon the sight. I had not gazed 
 long, before a deep, hollow booming, or protracted 
 concussion (for it was rather felt than heard) shook 
 the earth for some seconds. At the same moment 
 a pheasant, in an adjoining copse, announced his 
 consciousness of the shock by a sudden crowing, 
 which had hardly ceased before a second explosion, 
 succeeded after another interval by a third, the 
 loudest of all, induced every cock-pheasant in the 
 woods of Lavington to sound his note of alarm. 
 On my way home I passed several persons who 
 had heard the noise and had noticed its effect upon 
 the pheasants, especially one party of labourers 
 working close by a large preserve, who told me 
 that a loud and long-continued crowing proceeded 
 from all parts of the wood for many minutes after 
 the last explosion. No one was able to conjecture 
 the cause of the sound, nor was the mystery ex- 
 plained till the following day, when intelligence 
 arrived of the awful explosion at Messrs. Curtis 
 and Harvey's powder mills at Hounslow, nearly 
 fifty miles distant in a direct line from the spot 
 where I heard it." 
 
 Besides the common pheasant, there are several
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 253 
 
 other species ; many of them of splendid plumage, 
 and all of them natives of Asia, except one, that 
 has been recently discovered in Southern Eussia. 
 
 The RINGED PHEASANT, is found in our parks, 
 and preserves of game, and is a native of China, 
 and of the districts round the Caspian Sea. Its 
 chief characteristic is a white ring, encircling the 
 middle of the neck. 
 
 That beautiful species, the GOLDEN PHEASANT, has, 
 hitherto, only been preserved in aviaries, where 
 it is sheltered from cold, and supplied with foodr 
 It breeds freely in captivity. It also is a native 
 of China, and is frequently seen faithfully repre- 
 sented in Chinese drawings ; and is called by the 
 natives " Kinkee," which means, "gold-flower 
 fowl." 
 
 The SILVER PHEASANT, is a much larger, and 
 more hardy bird than the preceding ; and is a 
 native of the north of China. This bird might, 
 probably, be naturalized in our country. It is 
 very tame, and has more of the manners of the 
 fowl than pheasants in general. 
 
 That far-famed species, the ARGUS PHEASANT, has 
 never (it is believed) been brought alive to 
 Europe. This noble bird is little inferior, in 
 size to a turkey ; its greatest beauty is in its 
 remarkably long and broad wing-feathers, which 
 spread out at their extremities, and altogether,
 
 254 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 form a large, sweeping, fan-like plume. Each, 
 of these feathers is ornamented with a row of 
 eyes, whence it takes its name. The bird is a 
 native of the south-east of Asia, and the island of 
 Sumatra. 
 
 The IMPEY PHEASANT, is another species, re- 
 nowned for the beauty and richness of its colour- 
 ing. It is a native of the Himalayan mountains, 
 and is never found on the plains. The plumage 
 is of intense metallic brilliancy.
 
 255 
 
 SCRAPERS; OB, POULTRY TRIBE. 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 GROUSE. The Capercailzie, or Cock of the Wood Descrip- 
 tion of this bird in his native Norwegian forests The 
 Black Grouse Inhabits the Scotch hills Courage of the 
 female in defence of her young The Red Grouse, or 
 Moor-fowl An exclusively British Bird Inhabits the 
 Highlands of Scotland The Ptarmigan, or White Grouse 
 A hardy mountaineer Numbers imported from Lapland 
 and Norway, for sale Linnaeus' s account of the Ptarmigan 
 in Lapland. 
 
 OF GROUSE, we have four kinds : the noble CAPER- 
 CAILZIE, or COCK OF THE WOOD, was formerly abundant 
 in the mountainous forests of Scotland and Ireland ; 
 and, after having been extirpated for more than 
 half a century, it has been recently restored in 
 one district of Scotland. Its re-introduction was 
 effected by the late Sir T. F. Buxton, who sent his 
 gamekeeper to Norway for it, and presented the 
 birds which he brought over to the Marquis of 
 Breadalbane. 
 
 This is the great game-bird of the North ; 
 essentially an inhabitant of the forest, delighting 
 in the pine-forests of Scandinavia and other pine- 
 growing districts of northern and eastern Europe, 
 and feeding on the leaves and tender shoots of
 
 256 BKITISH LAND BIEDS. 
 
 the fir-trees. There, amid the branches of the 
 mighty pines, he sits, generally roosting in the 
 trees at night ; but if the weather be very cold, 
 he not unfrequently buries himself in the snow. 
 Considering the large size of the bird, which is 
 equal in bulk to a turkey (weighing from 8 to 
 10 Ibs., or even more), his flight is not particularly 
 heavy or noisy. 
 
 There is an admirable account of the habits of 
 this noble bird in Mr. Lloyd's " Field Sports of 
 the North of Europe," and in " The Zoologist, for 
 1850," the Eev. A. C. Smith, has contributed a 
 few interesting extracts from his journal on this 
 " pride of the Norwegian forests." He says : 
 
 "The birds inhabit the thickest parts of the 
 forests ; and difficult, indeed, is the ground which 
 the sportsman has to traverse in pursuit of them ; 
 generally among fallen trees, and huge masses of 
 rock, and up torn trunks, and tangled brushwood, 
 the capercailzie loves to dwell. The old cock is a 
 wary and cunning bird, and, as though knowing 
 that his great bulk presents a larger mark for the 
 sportsman, and is more difficult to conceal among 
 the trees, he will run in advance of you through 
 the forest, till he is far beyond your reach." 
 
 The native sportsmen are so well aware of this, 
 that it seems they have recourse to art in order to 
 secure their game. They lie in wait in the forest,
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 257 
 
 during night-time, till early dawn, when the 
 capercailzie, perched on the top of a pine-tree, 
 commences its " song," a harsh, grating sound, 
 which may be heard at a considerable distance. 
 While thus engaged, the poor bird seems absorbed 
 with its own music, and has no eyes or ears for 
 anything else. Seizing this moment, the sports- 
 man hastens as speedily as possible towards the 
 place ; but in a minute or two the singing ceases, 
 and the instant it does so, he must stop wherever 
 he be. In a few minutes the singing is sure to 
 commence again, and then he may approach still 
 nearer his victim. Thus he proceeds, till he 
 gains at length the foot of the tree where the bird 
 is perched, and then, while the poor unconscious 
 fowl is delighting itself, a cool steady shot from 
 below, brings him down with a tremendous 
 bounce, and the sportsman's bag is at once filled, 
 for the bird is as large as a turkey. 
 
 The BLACK GROUSE is so called from its violet- 
 black plumage. It has a white bar on the wings, 
 and the tail is very much forked. The weight of 
 the male bird is from three to four pounds. 
 These birds are most abundant in Scotland, and 
 the northern parts of England, and occur sparingly 
 in a few wild localities of the south. They 
 inhabit the lowest slopes of the hills, lonely 
 heaths, and the banks of marshes, but come on 
 
 s
 
 258 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 the stubble-fields in winter, when these are near 
 their haunts. They feed on wild berries and the 
 seeds of wood or marsh plants, and the tops of 
 heath and birch. 
 
 In spring, the males are alert by early dawn, 
 crowing and uttering a harsh and grating sound, 
 like the whetting of a scythe, displaying the 
 beauties of their plumage, and often fighting 
 most desperately till each has secured his share 
 of mates, when they scatter themselves, and the 
 business of incubation commences. This labour 
 is left to be performed by the female, and on her 
 alone devolves the care and provision of the 
 brood. When the young are all hatched, she 
 leads them to new pasture, and returns no more 
 to the nest, but gathers them at night under her 
 wings. , Instances have been known of the grey 
 hen (for so the female of the black grouse is 
 called), showing great courage in defence of her 
 offspring. It is mentioned in " The Zoologist, 
 for 1855," that a gentleman being on a fishing 
 excursion, crossing the hill between Carr-bridge 
 and the Spey, observed a dog, which was with 
 him, pointing, when a grey hen offered to do battle 
 in defence of her brood, flapping her wings like 
 fanners, and, with heroic bravery, she actually beat 
 her canine antagonist, and to the no email wonder 
 of the beholders, drove him, crest-fallen, away.
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 259 
 
 Another instance of remarkable instinct in this 
 bird occurred in the same neighbourhood. In 
 those districts the herd-boys are paid to preserve 
 the nests and protect the birds. One of these 
 boys told a keeper lately, that he had no difficulty 
 excepting with one nest, which was in a place 
 much frequented by cattle. " But (he said) I 
 have built a little house of stones and turf, and 
 that will prevent the cattle from getting at it." 
 The keeper objected that he would certainly 
 scare away the bird. " Oh ! no," he replied, " I 
 have left a little door for the hen to get in and 
 out at, and she sits as usual." The keeper, on 
 visiting the place, found this to be actually the 
 case, and many persons witnessed the cui'ious fact. 
 
 The supply of black grouse to the London 
 poulterers is very large and continuous, from 
 the end of August till the following month of 
 April ; during the first four months, from Scotland, 
 and afterwards, from Norway and Sweden. 
 
 The RED GROUSE, or moor-fowl, is the bird thus 
 described by Burns : 
 
 " The moorcock springs, on whirring wings, 
 Among the blooming heather." 
 
 And these lines are very descriptive of the flight 
 of the bird, which is low and peculiar, and appa- 
 rently performed with considerable effort. This 
 
 s 2
 
 260 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 is the only exclusively British bird which we 
 can boast of, being found in no part of the world 
 except the British Isles. It is of a reddish- 
 chestnut colour, shaded with brown and black. 
 It exists in England and Wales, and the north of 
 England as well as Scotland and also in Ireland ; 
 but the great stronghold of the species is the 
 Highlands of Scotland, where its preservation is 
 carried to such an extent, and the rights of 
 shooting let at such high rents, that despite the 
 immense annual slaughter, in the early part of 
 the season, there seems to be no prospect of its ex- 
 termination, or even material reduction. 
 
 The red grouse pairs very early in the season, 
 and commences laying in March or April. Its 
 favourite cover is the heather, which preserves 
 the birds from the weather, and from enemies. 
 Its food is berries, and the tender tops of heaths. 
 Mr. Mudie says, it is probable that the superior 
 juiciness and flavour of the red grouse, is owing 
 to their having a greater proportion of insect 
 food, and their feeding in drier places, as it is 
 a fact, that insect-feeding birds are always sweeter 
 than those which live on vegetable substances 
 only ; all gallinaceous birds are finer flavoured in 
 dry seasons than in rainy ones. 
 
 At the first part of the shooting season the young 
 birds lie close, particularly where the heath is
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 261 
 
 high and strong ; affording excellent sport after 
 a favourable breeding season ; but as the year 
 advances, the birds get strong, and from being 
 disturbed, become wild, and uniting in packs, it is 
 very difficult to get shots at them. The weight of 
 this grouse is about twenty-four ounces. 
 
 The PTARMIGAN, or white grouse, is the smallest 
 in size of the British grouse. It is now only to 
 be found on the highest summits of the lofty 
 ranges of mountains in the central and northern 
 parts of Scotland, and on some of the western 
 isles. It is said to have formerly existed in 
 Wales, but half a century, at least, must have 
 elapsed since its occurrence in that principality. 
 Its haunts are among the snow-covered peaks and 
 bleak rocks far above the heathery regions 
 inhabited by the grouse. 
 
 It is a very interesting bird, both from the 
 peculiarity of its haunts and its habits. Although 
 much less abundant than the red-grouse, it does 
 not seem to run any -risk of extermination, for the 
 inaccessible nature of its retreats, puts it beyond 
 the reach of the sportsman, who is not tempted to 
 incur the necessary fatigue by the chance of any 
 other game ; excepting, indeed, the grey hare, 
 which seems to share with the ptarmigan these 
 inhospitable regions. By the same means it is 
 protected from animals of prey, as it is above the
 
 262 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 range of fox, mountain-cat, and martin, and of its 
 four-footed enemies in general. 
 
 The bird is in every way adapted for the situa- 
 tion it inhabits ; being compactly and firmly 
 built, and its feet and toes, down to the very 
 claws, are so completely and closely feathered that 
 they are proof against almost any degree of cold. 
 The bill is black and strong (black bills and claws 
 always are firmer than those of any other colour), 
 and well adapted for crushing the hard berries, 
 heath-tops, mosses and lichens on which it feeds. 
 Nature or, rather, the God of nature, has pro- 
 vided this bird with an additional safeguard in the 
 tints of its plumage. In summer they are a mix- 
 ture of black and yellow, white and grey so exactly 
 resembling the mossy lichen-covered rocks and 
 stones among which it lies concealed, that only 
 the practised eye can detect it. As the season 
 changes, its hues gradually become whiter, until 
 at last it becomes like the snows of winter. 
 
 During that season the ptarmigan congregate in 
 family parties. The packs live peaceably together, 
 and shelter themselves in holes in the earth or 
 snow, through which they contrive to scrape 
 down, till they can subsist on the scanty vegeta- 
 tion which it covers. For, ti-ue to the mountaineer's 
 instinct, this mountain-bird is the last to quit his 
 home, be it never so barren, and not even winds
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 263 
 
 which might uproot forests, and frosts which all 
 but congeal mercury, can drive him thence. 
 
 Most people have noticed the vast numbers of 
 ptarmigan which are found in the shops of the 
 dealers, during the latter part of winter and the 
 early spring. Perhaps few are aware that scarcely 
 one of them has been killed on the mountains of 
 Scotland. They are imported from Lapland and 
 Norway, particularly the latter country, where 
 they are exceedingly plentiful. The weight of a 
 full-grown bird is about a pound and a quarter. 
 
 There is a second species of ptarmigan in 
 Norway and Lapland, and Linnaeus in his Lap- 
 land tour met with both kinds. Under date of 
 July 30th, he says : " The little alpine variety of 
 the ptarmigan* was now accompanied by its 
 young. I caught one of these, upon which the 
 hen ran so close to me, that I could easily have 
 taken her also. She kept continually jumping 
 round and round me ; but I thought it a pity to 
 deprive the tender brood of their mother, neither 
 would my compassion for the mother allow me 
 long to detain her offspring, which I restored to 
 her in safety." We cannot help admiring the 
 gentle and loving heart of the great naturalist, as 
 it shows itself in this pleasing little incident. 
 
 * The Scotch ptarmigan is the same as the smaller 
 Norwegian species.
 
 264 
 
 SCRAPERS, OB POULTRY TRIBE. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The COMMON PARTRIDGE Its food and hatching-time 
 Tame Partridges Two anecdotes illustrative of attachment 
 in these birds The Partridge a friend to the fanner A 
 family of Partridges Instinct and affection of parent birds 
 Hill Partridges Advice to sportsmen The Red-legged 
 Partridge Reasons for the sportsman's dislike to this bird. 
 
 THE COMMON PARTRIDGE is so well known that little 
 new can be said about it, as we are all familiar 
 with its appearance and habits. It is abundant 
 in all cultivated parts of Great Britain, but 
 seldom found at a distance from arable land, 
 which is its favourite haunt. It feeds on grain, 
 seeds, and insects, and especially on the eggs and 
 larvae of ants. It is the most prolific of all the 
 wild gallinaceous birds, the eggs being often as 
 many as twenty, and never fewer than twelve. 
 The period of hatching is twenty-one days, and 
 the grand hatching-time in the south of England 
 is from the 20th of June to the end of that month. 
 Among our native game-birds there is not one 
 more essentially a wild creature than this ; and 
 yet there is none whose increase and welfare have
 
 1. PARTKIDGE. 2. QTJAIL. 3. GBKAT BUSTARD.
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 207 
 
 been so much favoured by the improvements in 
 modern agriculture, " the districts best cultivated, 
 and producing the most corn," says Mr. Yarrell, 
 " frequently also producing the greatest number 
 of partridges."* 
 
 And yet, though such be the case, there is 
 scarcely an instance of the partridge having bred 
 in captivity, though individual birds are easily 
 tamed, and have been known to evince the strongest 
 personal attachment to their owner. A striking 
 instance is given by Mr. Knox, in his " Game 
 Birds and AVild Fowl." He says that a lady in 
 West Sussex had a tame partridge for many years. 
 It was a mere chick when she first possessed it, and 
 no dog or parrot was ever more tame or docile. 
 Though it had the range of the house, its favourite 
 place was the drawing-room, where it would sit 
 for hours, on the back of the chair usually occu- 
 pied by its beloved mistress, and showed the 
 strongest uneasiness during her occasional absence. 
 \Vhen she retired to rest it accompanied her to 
 her chamber, and took up its post near the head of 
 her bed. Unhappily this interesting bird met 
 with the usual fate of pets, and came to an un- 
 timely end. 
 
 In the year 1854, a nest of partridges' eggs was 
 
 * This is not always the case. In Norfolk the partridges 
 have diminished in number by improved fanning.
 
 268 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 brought up under a hen ; the young brood 
 exhibiting the greatest tameness and familiarity. 
 To the woman who fed them they showed a 
 particular partiality, and would come at her call, 
 and follow her about, close at her heels, nor leave 
 her, so long as she remained in the garden, where 
 they were kept. If not attended to as usual, they 
 would come and peck with their beaks at the 
 window of the room she sat in, and from which 
 they were usually fed. As the season advanced, 
 several of them strayed away ; but four remained 
 constant up to the month of August, until at 
 length they too disappeared for a day and a half, 
 and it was supposed had quite departed. How- 
 ever, on the afternoon of the second day a tapping 
 at the window was heard, and there were the four 
 partridges again. The mistress opened the sash 
 of the window, when they immediately flew up 
 at her, and fluttered about her face and breast, in 
 an unusual manner. Then, alighting on the 
 ground, they merely picked a few grains of the 
 corn she threw to them, and flew away. It was 
 evident they had not come for food ; it was a fare- 
 well visit, just to say " Good-bye ! thanks for all 
 your kindness ; we are now off." They returned 
 no more. 
 
 The partridge is decidedly a friend to the 
 farmer, probably as much so as the pheasant. His
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 269 
 
 consumption of grain is less, and the quantity of 
 noxious weeds and insects devoured by him at all 
 seasons of the year is great. 
 
 There are few more interesting sights than a 
 family of partridges. In the day they keep together, 
 and are seldom seen on the wing, unless disturbed. 
 They frequent grass fields, preferring the hedge- 
 sides. They feed only in the morning and in the 
 evening, and bask during the heat of the day, or 
 dust themselves in dry spots, where the soil is 
 loose ; the young and weak birds being often 
 much troubled with parasites. As soon as the 
 evening meal is over, and the insects begin to 
 buzz, their call is heard, and off they move to 
 some spot where they "jug," or roost, for the night, 
 nestled close on the ground, in a cluster, keeping 
 their heads outwards, and tails to the centre. 
 Some covies occupy the same spot, if not disturbed, 
 for a fortnight or more ; and others change their 
 quarters every night. 
 
 The attachment of partridges to their young is 
 proverbial. Both parents lead them out to feed, 
 and assist them in procuring food by scratching 
 the ground with their feet. They frequently sit 
 close together, and cover the young ones with 
 their wings ; and from this situation they are not 
 easily roused. But most persons know if they be 
 disturbed what ensues. The male utters a cry of
 
 270 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 distress, and throws himself in the way of the 
 intruder, and by every stratagem endeavours to 
 attract attention from the young, so as to give the 
 female time to carry off the brood in safety. 
 Many are the notes and records of the cunning 
 and ingenuity shown by them on these occasions. 
 One female, being surprised on her nest, when 
 she had laid only four eggs, was evidently aware that 
 she had been discovered, and covered the nest very 
 carefully with dead hedge-leaves and dry twigs, 
 which she removed every morning to deposit an 
 additional egg, afterwards concealing them again 
 in the same manner ; and so artfully was this done 
 that none but an experienced eye could have 
 known it from an unused nest of the former year. 
 This occurred in 1840. The same person who 
 witnessed this case, says that one day in August 
 1844, he surprised a covey of young partridges, 
 when one of the parent birds, in the most bold 
 and determined manner, refused to quit the spot 
 for some time, and actually made an attack upon 
 his legs. Mr. Jessie says : "A farmer discovered 
 a partridge sitting on its eggs, in a grass field. 
 The bird allowed him to pass his hand frequently 
 down its back, without moving or showing any 
 fear. But if he offered to touch the eggs, the poor 
 bird immediately pecked his hand." 
 
 Partridges, as a delicious article of food, have
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 271 
 
 always been held in high esteem by the lovers 
 of good fare. We have an old distich in its 
 praise : 
 
 " If the partridge had the woodcock's thigh. 
 'T would be the best bird that ever did fly." 
 
 Mr. Mudie observes that partridges bred in the 
 northern parts of the country, and which are 
 called " hill partridges," are, though smaller, 
 superior in flavour to the more bulky ones obtained 
 on the rich lands : " It seems," he says, " to be a 
 law of nature, to which there are few exceptions, 
 that the smaller any production runs, it is, if 
 equally perfect, always the more delicate. Hill 
 mutton, hill grain, and hill vegetables are so 
 many proofs, and hill partridges are another." 
 This author gives some very wise and suitable 
 advice to the sportsman ; he says : " When the 
 biris of the season have come to maturity, they 
 are far more than the winter could support. 
 Many would, in consequence, die of starvation ; 
 therefore, while they are in season, go by all 
 means to the field, inhale the bracing air of 
 autumn, to fortify you against the cold of winter, 
 and fire away. . . . But be a wise sportsman, 
 and do not exterminate. Be an honest one, and 
 ' bide your time.' From the time that the coveys 
 pack, and you can with difficulty get within shot of
 
 272 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 them, to that when the next brood are on the wing, 
 the birds are doing you nothing but good; and 
 you can do them only harm. Man may not 
 observe you, and you may evade the punishment 
 of the laws ; but do not on that account both 
 injure and degrade yourself. Take your use, with 
 knowledge, but be not an ignorant or wanton 
 plunderer of that store, over which, for the 
 greatest good of all, the eye of Omniscience keeps 
 watch." 
 
 The RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE is a native of France, 
 Italy, and the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, 
 from whence it has been imported into England 
 and naturalized in some parts of the country. It 
 is very common in Suffolk, and increasingly so in 
 Norfolk, and is occasionally found in other coun- 
 tries. Mr. Knox says the introduction of these 
 birds into this county is a subject of regret with 
 most sportsmen, owing, first, to their extreme 
 shyness, the rapidity with which they run, and 
 their reluctance to take wing; thus spoiling 
 the dogs, as well as disappointing the shooter; 
 and then, when killed, their flesh is far inferior 
 to that of the other kind. Lastly, it has been 
 found, in those districts where they have obtained 
 a firm footing, the partial disappearance of our 
 common partridge, has been the result, one 
 which is every way to be regretted.
 
 273 
 
 SCRAPERS; OB, POULTRY TRIBE. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Common Quail Habits of this bird in England The 
 Israelites fed with Quails Immense flight of Quails in 
 Egypt The Word of God and Natural History in perfect 
 accordance The Great Bustard The largest of the 
 Gallinaceous Family Extirpated from the plains of 
 England where it was formerly found The pouch of the 
 Bustard An inhabitant of the plain countries of Europe 
 Extract of a letter from the " Camp before Sebastopol." 
 
 THE COMMON QUAIL is the smallest British bird of 
 the poultry tribe, and is very like a partridge, 
 except in size ; and it also resembles that bird in 
 many of its habits. It is a summer visitor in most 
 parts of England ; and in Ireland it has also been 
 frequently found in the winter months, as well as 
 occasionally in England also. It chiefly frequents 
 corn-fields ; but is now much more rarely seen 
 than formerly. Quails run with great rapidity, 
 and they also fly quick, but, generally, straight 
 and low, and are difficult to " flush," sitting squat 
 and sleeping at midday. Their long flights are 
 understood to be performed in the night. 
 
 The London market is well supplied with 
 quantities of these birds, which are netted on the 
 
 T
 
 274 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 continent, chiefly in France, and brought alive to 
 this country in the spring, where they are subse- 
 quently fatted for the table. Their flesh is deli- 
 cate, and it is, accordingly, very much in request; 
 and in London, particularly during the season, 
 the consumption is large. 
 
 There seems to be good reason for believing 
 that this the only migratory species of quail is 
 the identical bird alluded to by the psalmist, when 
 it pleased the Almighty to furnish an ample supply 
 of food to the famishing Israelites, in the wilder- 
 ness, Psa. Ixxviii. 26 29, "He caused an east 
 wind to blow in the heaven : and by his power he 
 brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also 
 upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as 
 the sand of the sea : and he let it fall in the midst 
 of their camp, round about their habitations. So 
 they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave 
 them their own desire." 
 
 The history of this miraculous interposition, as 
 given in the eleventh chapter of Numbers, is 
 deeply interesting and instructive ; and the ac- 
 counts given by modern travellers fully corroborate 
 the Scriptural details as to the prodigious numbers 
 of quails, and the mode of drying them for food. 
 In Stade's " Travels in Turkey," we read " Near 
 Constantinople, in autumn, the sun is often almost 
 obscured by the prodigious flights of quails, which
 
 POULTRY TRIBE. 275 
 
 alight on the coasts of the Black Sea, near the 
 Bosphorus, and are caught by means of nets 
 spread on high poles, against which the birds, 
 exhausted by their passage over the sea, strike 
 themselves, and fall." 
 
 Madden mentions that they visit Egypt in 
 immense flights about harvest time, when the 
 Arabs take them, by thousands, in nets. A 
 French author says, that in a small island off the 
 coast of Egypt, these birds usually alight in 
 autumn, and are taken in immense quantities ; 
 and after being stripped of their feathers are dried 
 in the hot sands, for about a quarter of an hour, 
 and then sold for a penny a pound. The object 
 of the Israelites, in spreading them round the 
 camp, was, therefore, to dry them. Thus, observes 
 Mr. Yarrell, " we see the most ancient and vener- 
 able of all histories, the word of God, and natural 
 history, in perfect accordance ; and we also learn 
 how abiding and enduring are the works of the 
 Lord. Here, through 3300 years, we find the 
 perpetuation of an instinct, accompanied by a 
 peculiarity, which is still observed, that of these 
 migratory flights being made by night. ' And it 
 came to pass, that at even the quails came up, 
 and covered the camp.' " 
 
 The quail was honoured by the Phosnicians as 
 having saved Hercules ; a myth which may pro- 
 
 T 2
 
 276 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 bably be traced to the miraculous support in the 
 desert of the Israelites, the powerful neighbours 
 of Tyre. 
 
 The GREAT BUSTARD, the last in Great Britain of 
 the Gallinaceous Order, is by far the largest of 
 the family. It is really a splendid bird; the 
 male, when full grown, is four feet in length, and 
 in breadth, nine feet. It was once not uncommon 
 in this country, but is now so extremely 
 rare that every individual capture is recorded. 
 Its latest haunts were in the county of Norfolk ; 
 but even there it is now all but extinct. In olden 
 times it was recorded that, " the bustard, as big as 
 a turkey, was usually taken by greyhounds, on 
 Newmarket heath." Salisbury Plain was also, 
 formerly, one of its favourite localities. The last 
 observed there was in 1813. 
 
 This bird combines so many characters that it 
 stands alone, being different from every other 
 genus. Independently of its size, and the quality 
 of its flesh, which is highly prized, it is very 
 interesting. The structure of the feet adapts it 
 only to firm land ; and, as it cannot perch, and is 
 not well-formed for making its way among bushes, 
 it is never found but in the open country. The 
 bustard never wades, and seldom drinks. Its most 
 powerful motion is, not running, but flight ; for 
 which, heavy as it is, its large wings well adapt it
 
 POULTRY TKIBE. 277 
 
 The male is said to possess a capacious pouch, 
 situate along the fore-part of the neck, and capable 
 of holding several pints of water. Naturalists 
 have been much puzzled to make out the use of 
 this receptacle, and recently attention has been 
 afresh directed to the subject. In " The Zoologist, 
 for 1853 " (p. 4015), there is a paper, by Mr. 
 Yarrell, on the habits and structure of this bird, 
 containing many interesting particulars relating 
 to it, and concluding with an account of an anatom- 
 ical examination of the neck ; but no pouch could be 
 found, and Professor Owen, and Mr. Yarrell seem 
 disposed to doubt the accuracy of former writers on 
 this point, the latter acknowledging his opinion 
 to be changed since the publication of his 
 " British Birds." It should seem that the accounts 
 formerly given of this bird were very incorrect, 
 and now that it is become so rare, it is no easy 
 matter to correct mistakes, and to supply neces- 
 sary information. Well may we deplore the 
 disappearance of the fine cock of the woods from 
 the forests of Scotland, and almost equally so the 
 extirpation of the great bustard from the plains of 
 England. 
 
 The bustard is found in many parts of France 
 and Italy, and in Spain and Portugal. It is also a 
 native of Kussia and the plains of Tartary. It is 
 naturally a very wild bird, and in Germany,
 
 278 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 
 
 where it is very numerous, the sportsmen find 
 it is so difficult to approach that they use as 
 many devices to get within rifle-shot of it as 
 are employed by the Highlanders when stalking 
 red-deer. In Holland it is a rare bird. It may 
 interest the reader to close this account of the 
 bustard with an extract of a letter from our 
 " Camp before Sebastopol," dated Dec. 21st, 
 1855. 
 
 " Winter is now come upon us in reality, and 
 we have had, of late, some very cold weather ; on 
 the night of the 18th the thermometer went down 
 to eight degrees below zero. . . . For the last few 
 days we have had immense flocks of bustards 
 flying from the eastward. Hundreds of sportsmen 
 have been on the look-out for them, and several 
 have been killed. They are very large. Some of 
 those killed, I am told, weigh as much as fifteen or 
 sixteen pounds. There is also snipe and wild fowl 
 shooting to be had on the Tchernaya ; but it is at 
 the risk of one's life this sport is to be enjoyed, as 
 the Russians are within shot, and generally take 
 advantage of it."
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Anecdote of a collection of trained 
 gold-finches, linnets, and cana- 
 ries, 187 
 
 Angora cat, the, and robin, 147 
 
 Argus pheasant, the, 251 
 
 Barn, the, or white owl, 89 
 
 Bee-eater, the, 228 
 
 Birds of prey, 47 95 
 
 Birds, habits, etc. of parental 
 love, 15 ; fear, 16 ; sympathy and 
 fellow-feeling, 18 ; joy and play- 
 fulness, 20; emulation, 21; va- 
 nity and self-love, 23; sagacity, 
 24 ; language, communication, 
 28 ; social impulse, 33 ; confidence 
 in man, 40 
 
 Bird's nest, a, Pennant's lines on, 
 142 
 
 Black-cap warbler, 157 
 
 Blackheaded bunting, the, 177 
 
 Black grouse, 255 
 
 Blue tit, the, 168 
 
 Bulfinch, 189 ; amusing note on its 
 destructiveness, 190 
 
 Bunting, the common, 176 
 
 Buntings, the, 174, et seq. 
 
 Bustard, the great, 274 
 
 Butcher birds, 96, et seq. 
 
 Buzzard, the, 80 
 
 Capercailzie, the, or cock of the 
 
 wood, 253 
 Carrier pigeon, 241; instances of 
 
 power of speed in, 242 
 
 Carrion crow, 115 
 
 Cat, a, and a kestrel, curious tale of, 
 
 75 
 
 Chaffinch, the, 181 
 Chats, the, 164, et seq. 
 Chiff-chaff, the, 159 
 Chimney swallow, the, 208. 
 Chough, the, 124 
 Climbing birds, the, 216, et 
 
 seq. 
 Cockney sparrow and the keeper of 
 
 an early breakfast-stall, 197 
 Conical beaked perchers, 172, et 
 
 seq. 
 
 Crow, the, 114, et seq. 
 Crows, the, 111, et seq. 
 Cuckoo, the, 224 
 
 Dipper, the, 106 
 Domestic pigeons, 241 
 Doves, 232, et seq. 
 Duck, the, its origin, 9 
 
 Eagle, the, 48, et seq.; British 
 species, 55; Job's poetical des- 
 cription of, 64 
 
 Falcon tribe, the, 48, et seq. 
 Falconry, 71, et seq. 
 Falcons, the true, 70, et seq. 
 Fallow chat, the, 165 
 Fieldfare, the, 105 
 Finches, the, 180, et seq. 
 Firecrested wren, the, 149 
 Fishing-hawk, the, 67
 
 280 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Flight, modes of, in birds of prey, 
 
 53 
 
 Flycatchers, 100, et teq. 
 Fowl, the domestic, its origin, 6 
 
 Gallinaceous birds, 232 276 
 Garden thrush, the, 103 
 Garden warbler, the, 159 
 Geese, domestic, origin of, 9 
 '' Gled," or " Glead," the, 79 
 Goatsucker, the, 213 
 Golden-crested wren, 149 
 Golden eagle, the, 55 
 Golden pheasant, the, 251 
 Goldfinch, the, 186 
 Gold-vented thrush, the, 108 
 Goshawk, the, 76 
 Great shrike, the, 99 
 Great tit, the, 167 
 Greenfinch, the, 185 
 Green woodpecker, the, 219 
 Grosbeak, the common, 185 
 Grouse, 253, et teq. 
 Guinea fowl, the common, 8 
 Gyr, the, or Iceland falcon, 70 
 
 Halcyon, the, 229 
 
 Harriers, the, 81, et teq. 
 
 Hawfinch,.the, 185 
 
 Hawking, 72, et teq. 
 
 Hawks, the, 76, et teq. 
 
 Hedge-warbler, the, 160 
 
 Hedge sparrow, the, 160 
 
 Hen-harrier, the, 82 
 
 Heron, the, 71 
 
 Hobby, the, 74 
 
 Hooded, the, or Royston crow, 122 
 
 Hoopoe, the, 228 
 
 House martins, 211 
 
 House sparrow, the, 196 
 
 Iceland falcon, the, 70 
 
 Irapey pheasant, the, 262 
 Inseitoret, 96 231 
 Introductory chapter, 13 45 
 Ivy, or tawny owl, 94 
 
 Jackdaw, the, 126; curious account 
 
 of, 127 
 Jay, the, 129 
 
 Kestrel, the, 74; curious tale of a 
 
 cat and a, 75 
 Kingfisher, the, 229 
 Kite, the, 79 
 
 Larks, the, 172, et teq. 
 Linnets, the, 182, et seq. 
 Long-tailed tit, the, 168 
 
 Magpie, the, 131 ; superstitions res- 
 pecting 132; anecdotes of tame, 
 133 
 
 Marsh harrier, the, 81 
 
 Martin, the, 208 ; touching instance 
 of parental affection in, 211 
 
 Meadow pipit, the, 162 
 
 Mealy redpole, the, 185 
 
 Merlin, the, 74 
 
 Migratory birds, some, dates of 
 their appearance and departure, 
 206 
 
 Missel thrush, the, 102 
 
 Montagu's harrier, 83 
 
 Moorfowl, the, 257 
 
 Mountain linnet, the, 184 
 
 Nightingale, the, 149; Walton on 
 
 the, 151 
 
 Nightjar, the, 213 
 Nut-hatch, the, 221 
 
 Osprey, the, 67
 
 INDEX. 
 
 281 
 
 Owls, 84; et seq; entertaining ac- 
 count of a colony of, 90; Scrip- 
 tural references to the owl, 94 
 
 Parrots, 230; curious anecdote of, 
 
 231 
 
 Passenger pigeon, 240 
 Partridge, the common, 262, et seq. 
 Peacocks, 8 
 
 Perching birds, 96 231 
 Peregrine falcon, 70 
 Pettychaps, the, 159 
 Pheasant, the, 246, et seq. 
 Pied flycatcher, the, 102 
 Pied wagtail, the, 144 
 Pies, the, 111, et seq. 
 Pigeons, 232, et seq. 
 Pink, the, 181 
 Pintado, the, 8 
 Pipits, the, 162, et seq. 
 Poultry tribe, the, 232276 
 Preface, 512 
 Ptarmigan, the, 259 
 
 Quail, the common, 271 ; Scripture 
 references to, 272 
 
 Rapacious birds, 4795 
 
 Raptores, 4795 
 
 Rasores, 232 276 
 
 Raven, the, 111; anecdote of a 
 
 tame, 113 
 
 Red-backed shrike, the, 100 
 Redbreast, the, 145 
 Red grouse, the, 257 
 Red-legged crow, the, 124 
 Red-legged partridge, the, 270 
 Redpole, the greater, 182 
 Redpole, the lesser, 183 
 Redstart, the, 155 
 Redwing, the, 105 
 Reed bunting, the, 177 
 Reed warbler, the, 155 
 
 Ring-dove, the, 236 
 
 Ringed pheasant, the, 251 
 
 Ring ousel, the, 108 
 
 Robin, the, 145; and Angora cat, 
 147 
 
 Rock dove, the, 237 
 
 Rock pipit, the, 163 
 
 Rock thrush, the, 108 
 
 Rook, the, 114, et seq.; remarkable 
 instance of a rook's attachment 
 for man, 119 
 
 Rooks, are they useful or injuri- 
 ous to the husbandman ? 116 
 
 Rose-coloured pastor, the, 136 
 
 Royston crow, the, 122 
 
 Sand martin, the, 207 
 
 Scrapers, the, 232276 
 
 Sea, the, or white-tailed eagle, 62 
 
 Sedge-warbler, the, 155 
 
 Shrikes, the, 96, et seq. 
 
 Silver pheasant, the, 251 
 
 Skua gulls, chase of a sea-eagle by, 
 
 63 
 
 Sky-lark, the, 172 
 Snow-bunting, the, 178; nest of 
 
 affecting anecdote by Captain 
 
 Lyon, 178 
 Snowflake, the, 178 
 Snowy owl, the, 88 
 Song, or garden thrush, the, 103 ; 
 
 anecdote of, 104 
 Sparrow hawk, the, 77 ; anecdotes 
 
 of, 77 
 Sparrows, 181, 195, et seq.; our 
 
 Lord's allusion to, 199 
 Sparrows, London, impudence of, 
 
 197 
 
 Spotted eagle, the, 55 
 Spotted flycatcher, the, 100; anec- 
 dotes of, 101 
 Starling, the, 134 
 Stockdove, the, 237
 
 282 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Stonechat, the, 164; Mudie's des- 
 cription of, 164 
 
 Swallow, the, 141; the ancients 
 and, 209 
 
 Swallows, the, 200, et seq. 
 
 Swift, the, 208 212, 
 
 Sylvan warblers, the, 155 
 
 Tawny owl, the, 94 
 
 Thrush tribe, the, 102, et seq. 
 
 Titmouse, the long-tailed, 141; 
 
 anecdote of a tame, 171 
 Tits, the, 167, et seq. 
 Tom-tit, the, 167 
 Tree creeper, the, 221 
 Tree pipit, the, 163 
 Tree sparrow, the, 195 
 Turkey, the, its origin, etc., 7 
 Turtle-dove, the, 239 
 Twite, the, 184 
 
 Vulture, solitary, seen in England 
 47 
 
 Wagtails, the, 143, et seq. 
 Warblers, the, I37,etseq.; the true, 
 152, et seq. 
 
 Water ousel, the, 106 
 
 Water wagtail, a, curious anecdote 
 of, 146 
 
 Wheatear, the, 165 
 
 Whin chat, the, 165 
 
 White grouse, the, 259 
 
 White owl, the, 89 
 
 White-tailed eagle, the, 63 
 
 Whitethroat, the common, 156; 
 and nightingale, anecdote of, 
 157 
 
 White's thrush, 108 
 
 Willow warbler, the, 161 
 
 Windhover, the, 75 
 
 Woodchat shrike, the, 99 
 
 Woodpeckers, the, 216 
 
 Wood owl, the, 94 
 
 Wood warbler, the, 160 
 
 Word of God, the, and natural his- 
 tory, 273 
 
 Wren, the common, 148 
 
 Wrens, the, 145, et seq. 
 
 Wryneck, the, 220 
 
 Yellow bunting, the, 174 
 Yellow hammer, the, 174 
 Yellow wagtail, the, 144
 
 LIST OF ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 Bee-eater, the, 227 
 Bulfinch, the, 201 
 Buzzard, the, 66 
 
 Creeper, the common, 217 
 Cuckoo, the, 227 
 
 Gold Crest, the, 153 
 Golden Eagle, the, Frontispiece 
 Goldfinch, the, 169 
 Great Bustard, the, 263 
 Green Woodpecker, the, 217 
 
 Hoopoe, the, 227 
 Jay, the, 110 
 
 Kingfisher, the, 227 
 Kite, the, 66 
 
 Long-eared Owl, the, 86 
 
 Martin, the, 201 
 Meadow Pipit, the, 153 
 Missel Thrush, the, 97 
 
 Nightingale, the, 139 
 Night-jar, the, 201 
 Nut-hatch, the, 217 - 
 
 Partridge, the, 263 
 Peregrine Falcon, the, 66 
 Pied Wagtail, the, 139 
 
 Quail, the, 263 
 
 Raven, the, 110 
 Bed-backed Shrike, the, 97 
 j Redbreast, the, 153 
 Reed Wren, the, 139 
 Rose-coloured Pastor, the, 110 
 
 Sky-lark, the, 169 
 Snowy Owl, the, 86 
 Sparrow-hawk, the, 66 
 Spotted flycatcher, the, 97 
 Starling, the, 110 
 Swift, the, 201 
 
 Tawny Owl, the, 86 
 Tom-tit, the, 169 
 
 Water Ousel, the, 97 
 Wheatear, the, 153 
 Wren, the, 139 
 Wryneck, the, 217 
 
 Yellow-hammer, the, 169
 
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