The Great Titmouſe, Colemouſe, and Marſh Titmouſe; with the Blue, Long-tailed, and Bearded, Titmice, are the only ſpecies of the tribe which inhabit this country: they are all very frequent ex⯑cepting the latter; which however is not uncommon in certain ſitua⯑tions, though formerly eſteemed as rare.

It was deſcribed by Aldrovandus in his Ornithology publiſhed in the years 1610—1613; and appears to be well known at that time in ſe⯑veral parts of Europe, though unknown in Britain: more than a cen⯑tury after Aldrovandus, (1734), it was included in a Hiſtory of the Birds of Germany by J. L. Friſch; but even at that time, was ſo rare with us, that it was ſcarcely aſcertained to be a native of Britain; and Albin, who ſeems to have poſſeſſed ſome knowledge of Birds, de⯑termines it as a native, only on the authority of the information he received from others; his Hiſtory of Birds was publiſhed in 1738; therein he gives a figure of the Male Bird, and ſays in the Deſcriptions annexed, "Theſe two birds (male and female) I bought of Mr. Bland on Tower-hill, who told me he had them from Jutland: I have been ſince informed by Sir Robert Abdy, that they are found in the Salt⯑marſhes in Eſſex, and by others that they are likewiſe in the fens in Lincolnſhire."

He alſo obſerves that it receives the name Beardmanica from the black tuft reſembling a picked beard.

Edwards ^* refers it to the tribe of Butcher-birds, under the title of LANIUS Minimus, Leaſt Butcher-Bird; but Linnaeus, in his Syſtema Naturae, reduced it to the PARUS genus; and late writers have alſo determined it to the ſame family.

[7]Its length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is ſix inches and a quarter: the bill is thick, and of a bright yellow colour, but fades immediately when the bird dies; in the female it is rather duſky; and the head, which is of a fine grey in the male, is of a browniſh ruſt colour, ſpotted with black, in the female: indeed, the female is immediately diſtinguiſhed by the plainneſs of her plumage, it neither poſſeſſing the beautiful purple colour on the breaſt, or the black tufts on the throat, which characterizes the male: the vent-feathers of the male are pale black; of the female light brown; as are the other parts of the belly.

Pennant, in the Britiſh Zoology, ſays, "This ſpecies is found in the marſhes near London: we have ſeen it near Glouceſter: it is alſo frequent among the great tracts of reeds near Cowbit in Lincolnſhire, where I ſuſpect they breed.

Latham, in his General Synopſis,—"Theſe birds are found in England, but have hitherto been obſerved only in marſhy ſituations where reeds grow, on the ſeeds of which it feeds, as well as ſmall in⯑ſects; both of which have been found in their ſtomachs. They are pretty frequent, and in not inconſiderable quantities, in the marſhes among the reeds between Erith and London, and are again met with in ſuch-like places near Glouceſter, as well as among the great tracts of reeds near Cowbit, in Lincolnſhire. In all theſe places I make no doubt of their breeding, as I know that they ſtay in the firſt-named parts the whole year. The neſt is not known for certain; but I have ſeen one, which was compoſed of very ſoft downy materials, ſuſpended between three reeds drawn together, thought to be the work of that bird."

"They are alſo common in Denmark; and Buffon ſuppoſes that a pair of theſe, having eſcaped from the cage of the Counteſs of Albe⯑marle, [8] have founded this colony in England. This may have been the caſe in reſpect to thoſe of Erith, being on the borders of the Thames, but will not ſo well account for their being elſewhere; and I am inclined to think that they are indigenous to us, and have been ſo ab origine; and that it is merely owing to their frequenting ſuch places only where the reeds grow, that they have been ſo little known; for as thoſe birds never go farther than a few yards from the beds ^*, they have ſtood a greater chance, which has really happened, of not being earlier obſerved."

Kramer ſays the neſt is built among the willows, and is of the ſhape of a purſe, made of ſoft downy materials, ſuch as the down of the Greater Cat's-Tail ^†, or that of the Aſp ^‡, hanging the neſt on a branch.

What new light Mr. Latham could throw on this ſubject, is given in the Supplement publiſhed in the year 1787.

"I have never yet been able myſelf to aſcertain the neſt and eggs. In Sepp's ^‖ plate the neſt is placed on the ground among the ſedges. It is of a very looſe texture, compoſed of the tops of dry graſs, mixed with the ſeed-heads of ruſhes and reeds, with narrow leaves inter⯑mixed. The eggs four in number, of a reddiſh white, marked with ſmall brown ſpots."

[9]"This ſpecies is found in Schonen, in Sweden; but rarely. Is very common about the Caſpian Sea and Palus Moeotis, and among the ruſhes of the rivers which fall into them; but in no high latitudes in Aſia. None in Siberia ^*."

The male ſhews much tenderneſs and care for its young, and its mate partakes alſo of its affection: it is ſaid to be ever conſtant in its attachments; and at night, when at rooſt, the male protects the fe⯑male, under the concave of his wing.

The Jay, though very frequent in every part of the country, evi⯑dently deſerves, for the ſingular beauty of its plumage, the firſt place in a collection of intereſting Britiſh Birds: it is a ſpecies, however, not merely confined to this kingdom; but generally diffuſed over the greater part of the continent of Europe.

Among the foreign birds which are referred to this genus, are ſe⯑veral ſpecies eminently diſtinguiſhed for their rich and elegant colour⯑ing; but the European Jay is certainly ſuperior in this particular to many exotics of the ſame family.

Its habits are known, in a great degree, to reſemble thoſe of the Magpie, which alſo belongs to the ſame genus. It will devour with avidity cherries, gooſeberries, raſpberries, or other fruits; but in au⯑tumn and winter it feeds on acorns; whence it long ſince derived the name PICA Glandaria. It is not deſtitute of a carnivorous ap⯑petite, as it frequently combats, and devours, ſmall birds: it alſo feeds on worms and inſects.

[13]Ablin, in Plate 16. Vol. 1. very accurately deſcribes the Jay he took his figure from, which nearly correſponds with our ſpecimen.

"Its length, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, was fourteen inches; its breadth, when the wings were extended, twenty-one inches and an half; its weight ſeven ounces; the bill dark aſh co⯑lour inclining to black, ſtrong, near an inch and an half long; the tongue black, thin, pellucid, and cloven at the tip; the irides of the eyes white. Near on the lower chap of the bill are two black ſpots, on each ſide one. The chin and lower part of the belly whitiſh, elſe the breaſt and belly are of a mixt cinereous and red; the rump above is white, the back red, with a mixture of blue; the feathers on the crown of the head variegated with black and white.

"The ſails of the wings are in number twenty, of which the firſt is ſhorter by half than the ſecond, the fourth the longeſt (being by mea⯑ſure ſix inches and a quarter); the firſt or outermoſt is black, the bottom or lower part white, which is proper to it alone; the ſix next following have their exterior vanes of an aſh colour, the three next likewiſe, but more obſcure, and mingled with blue, being alſo marked toward their bottom with tranſverſe black and white ſtrokes; the five ſucceeding have their exterior vanes half white, half black, viz. the lower half white, the upper black, but ſo that each extremity of the white is terminated with blue; the ſixteenth, in place of the white of the four precedent, hath tranſverſe blue, black, and white ſpots; the ſeventeenth is black, having one or two blue ſpots; the eighteenth is black with ſome little red; the nineteenth red with the tip black; the under ſides of all the feathers of the wing are of a dark or duſky colour; the covert-feathers of the fifteen exterior ſails are very beautiful, being variegated or chequered with black, white, and lovely ſhining blue lines, the reſt of the covert-feathers being black.

[14]"The tail is ſix inches and a quarter long, conſiſting of twelve feathers, wholly black except toward their roots: under the rump there is ſomething of a blue mingled with cinereous.

"The feet and toes are of a ferruginous duſky colour, the middle toe is the longeſt; the outmoſt is equal to the back toe; the lower joint of the outmoſt toe is joined to the middlemoſt; the back claw is the greateſt.

"The guts are twenty-four inches long; the blind guts but half an inch; it hath a gall and a long ſpleen: the ſtomach or gizzard not very fleſhy, and having its echinus, wherein were found acorns, &c."

He adds, "The female differs little or nothing from the male, either in bigneſs or colour, ſo that it is very difficult to know them aſunder:" but after the publication of his firſt Volume of Birds, he rectifies this error, in a ſupplement which is prefixed to the work. "The following obſervations," (ſays he) "I received from Dr. Der⯑ham, after the deſcriptions were printed. He hath obſerved the Cock Jay (Plate 16. Vol. 1.) to be ſomewhat bigger than the Hen, the feathers on the head to be blacker, the ſtripes longer, and the black and blue colours more elegant in the Cock than in the Hen."

Jays generally build in woods, preferring a ſituation near the ſkirts: the neſt is compoſed of fibrous roots, and young twigs, erected on a baſe of ſeveral large ſticks, and is placed on the top of a thorn-buſh, or other under-wood, or between the firſt branches of low decayed trees: the female lays five or ſix eggs, of the ſize of a pigeon's, of a cinereous olive colour, marked with very pale brown ſpots: the young Jays remain with their parents till the next ſpring; and at the pairing time they each chooſe his mate, to propagate their future progeny.

[15]It is a reſtleſs and very quarrelſome bird: makes a harſh, chattering and ſcreaming noiſe; and is ever at variance not only with its own ſpecies, but with every other inhabitant of the foreſt: when deprived of liberty, it may be taught to imitate the human voice; but the ori⯑ginal appearance of its plumage is ſo altered by confinement, as ſcarcely to retain any of the beautiful colours, which are ſo emi⯑nently conſpicuous in the wild ſtate.

It is a native of Denmark, and of Ruſſia; of Scotland, and of England; but does not frequent the iſlands adjacent.

Latham ſays, "The Jay, I believe, is not ſpread ſo far as many others of the genus, as we do not hear of its inhabiting further ſouth than Italy and Greece.

"This ſpecies is common in the woods both of Ruſſia and Siberia, but none beyond the Lena ^*; Georgi mentions it as frequenting the Lake Baikal, and Ruſſel records it as an Aleppo ſpecies ^†. I have a ſuſpicion alſo that it extends to China, as it is to be ſeen in the drawings of birds from that country.

"It is called by the name of Jay, about Arragon in Spain, as in England. In the laſt it is not eſteemed as food; but in the firſt it is expoſed to ſale along with other birds ^‡." It is alſo eaten in Swe⯑den ^‖. Supp. Gen. Syn. p. 79. N^o 19.

This ſpecies is very rare in every part of Europe; and eſpecially in this country: we have a figure of it in the Britiſh Zoology; but unfor⯑tunately, notwithſtanding Mr. Pennant's very laudable intentions, he had no opportunity of conſulting the original ſpecimen; he depended on a drawing done by his friend Mr. G. Edwards; and the copy is only a diſtant imitation of the bird; it is defective about the body, and ex⯑ceedingly incorrect as to the circumference of the neck; the account ſays, "Mr. Edwards diſcovered this beautiful bird twice in our iſland, near London, at Norwood, and another time in Norfolk;" the figure of this was copied by permiſſion from his beautiful and accurate deſign, which we gratefully acknowledge, as well as every other aſſiſtance from our worthy friend; whoſe pencil has done ſo much honour to his country.

This bird is the ſize of a ſtarling; eight inches in length: bill three quarters of an inch, of a fleſh-colour, with the baſe reddiſh: irides pale: the feathers on the head long, they form a creſt which impends on the neck: the head, neck, wings, and tail, are black; the two latter are ſtrongly gloſſed with green; and in ſome parts with an inclination to blue and purple: the back, rump, breaſt, belly, and leſſer wing coverts, pale roſe colour, with a few irregular dark ſpots: legs pale red, or orange.

Ruſſell in his Hiſtory of Aleppo, calls our reſe a fleſh-colour; and in the Peterſburgh Tranſactions the name given to it is ſanguineous; we may then conclude that the bird varies much in its roſe, or pink colour; the female alſo is paler than the male.

Mr. Latham has added a farther proof of its being found in this country, one was ſhot at Grantham, in Lincolnſhire, and is now in the poſſeſſion of Sir Joſeph Banks, Bart.; and he ſays that he is aſſured of one, or more, being ſhot almoſt every ſeaſon about Ormſkirk in Lan⯑caſhire.

[]It is more frequent in France; and is met with in Burgundy, in its paſſage to other parts: Aldrovandus mentions it as not uncommon in Italy, where it is called the ſea ſtare, and ſays its uſual haunts are among heaps of dung ^*: it is alſo found in Switzerland and Lapland, but it never paſſes the limits of that frozen region ^†.

In ſome parts of Aſia it is common: "It comes in great numbers about Aleppo, in July and Auguſt, in purſuit of the ſwarms of locuſts ^‡; whence it is held ſacred by the Turks, as great quantities are deſtroyed by this means: it is alſo ſeen in vaſt flocks, every year in the ſouth of Ruſſia; about the river Don; and in Siberia, about the Irtiſch; finding abundance of locuſts for food, and convenience for breeding between the rocks: it is alſo common on the borders of the Caſpian Sea; about Aſtrachan; and from thence all along the Volga." Latham Gen. Syn. 3. 50. 52.

It extends to India; Sir Joſeph Banks, has one in his collection which was received from Bombay.

The golden creſted Wren is the ſmalleſt bird yet diſcovered, in either of the Britiſh iſles; is common to France, Auſtria, Italy, and moſt other parts of Europe; and in thoſe countries, as with us, it appears to be the leaſt native ſpecies.

But diſcoveries in the interior parts of ſouth America, have verified, that it is not the leaſt kind exiſting; in that country where the Con⯑dor is found, the moſt diminutive ſpecies of the feathered tribe are alſo taken; and to thoſe the leaſt European bird bears a gigantic diſpropor⯑tion; for inſtance, the length of the golden-creſted Wren is three inches and an half, its weight ſeventy-ſix grains: but the total length of the leaſt South-American Humming bird ^* is not more than an inch and a quarter, and its weight when freſh killed twenty grains ^†; the female is yet ſmaller ^‡.

[]The appellations Regulus, and Tyrannus, Little King, or Tyrant, have been given to the golden-creſted Wren by ſome authors: it has ability to conceal the orange band on the head; by corrugating the forehead, and drawing together the feathers, which form the black longitudinal band on each ſide.

The colour of the plumage of the female is paler, than of the male; the creſt or feathers on the crown of the head are yellow, but without the bright orange colour, which ſoftens into the creſt of the male.

It remains with us through the winter ^*; frequents woods; and builds its neſt, either in oak, fir, or yew trees, the neſt is of a roundiſh form, with an opening on one ſide; it is compoſed of moſs; and lined within with ſome downy ſubſtance, (perhaps cobwebs,) intermixed with ſmall filaments.

It lays ſix or ſeven eggs, which are no bigger than large peas ^†.

Although the ſpecies is found in Europe, it is ſcattered throughout the other three quarters of the globe, with only ſome little variations which mark the influence of climate; Latham mentions a ſpecimen received from Cayenne with black legs.

It is a native of Ruſſia ^‡, Sweden, and Norway; and is found as far north as the Shetland iſles; but diſappears before winter; it bears cold extremely well, and therefore it may be rather the ſcarcity of inſects, on which it feeds; than merely the approaching ſeaſon, which induces it to take ſuch vaſt flights.

[]It is alſo found in the northern parts of America, Penſylvania ^*, and New-York ^†.

"We have obſerved this bird ſuſpended in the air for a conſiderable time over a buſh in flower, whilſt it ſung very melodiouſly. The note does not much differ from that of the common Wren, but is very weak." Brit. Zool. 379. 153.

Suppoſed to inhabit ſome parts of Denmark and Norway; has been diſcovered, though very rarely, near the Caſpian Sea; and was once received by Mr. Pennant, from Copenhagen.

It is probably a ſcarce bird in every part; in this country it has been only diſcovered by a few individuals, and that very lately; we believe the moſt perfect yet taken, to be that ſpecimen of which Mr. Latham has given a figure in the ſupplement to his General Synopſis; our figure is alſo copied from the ſame bird.

It is on the authority of this author, that we include it as a Britiſh bird; in his deſcription he ſays, "I received a perfect ſpecimen of the Male of this bird from Major Hammond, who informed me, that the end of April, the year 1786, two of them alighted in a farm-yard, near his houſe, in Eaſt Kent, and were taken alive."

"I have alſo met with two other ſpecimens; the firſt ſent to me January 28, 1786, by Mr. Martin, of Teignmouth, a gentleman to whom I owe many other obligations: his ſpecimen had not come to perfection, as the colours on the head and neck were much blended, and the ferruginous on the neck only juſt breaking forth. Mr. Boys, of Sandwich, alſo obliged me with a third, the beginning of laſt October, (1787): his bird, he informed me, weighed nineteen ounces and a half; the length twenty-one inches and a half; breadth eight. The bill yellow at the baſe, duſky olive towards the tip: lore duſky: irides pale brown: head quite ſmooth. The deſcription differed not much; but the ferruginous colour of the neck was much blended with duſky; the white on the under parts greatly mottled with the ſame: Legs duſky; within, greeniſh yellow. The middle toe united to the [] inner as far as the firſt joint; and to the outer, to the middle of the ſecond ^*."

"The two laſt mentioned are, no doubt, birds not in full plumage. That deſcribed by Dr. Sparrman is clearly under the ſame predica⯑ment; perhaps a ſtill younger bird than either of the others, as the cinereous parts on the throat appear white, with three or four lines of black, and acroſs the lower part of the neck is a band of white. The bird figured in Jacquin ſeems an adult."

That mentioned by Buffon was ſeventeen inches in length; had the breaſt mottled with ferruginous; and a white ſpot on the quills.

Size of a Blackbird. The body of the female is of a dull greeniſh colour; the wings are duſky inclining to green alſo; and the tail is nearly of the ſame obſcure colour, except the two middle feathers which are of a pale yellow.

But the male is evidently one of the moſt beautiful birds that has ever been diſcovered in this iſland: the whole of the body which is a dull green in the female, is a lovely golden yellow, inclining to an orange colour in the male; the wings are black and form a moſt ſtriking contraſt; and the black ſtripe from the beak to the eye is no inconſiderable addition to its beauty.

It is rarely met with in England: PENNANT obſerves in the Britiſh Zoology ^*, that he only knew one inſtance of its being ſhot in Great Britain, and that in South Wales: Latham ſays "it is now and then met with in England ^†;" and adds, in his Supplement, "Since the publication of my Synopſis ^‡, this bird has been twice ſhot in England. One of the ſpecimens is now in my collection."

[]It ^* is common in ſeveral parts of Europe, but ſuppoſed to be moſt frequent in France, where it ſpends the ſummer, and propagates its ſpecies. It is ſcarcely ever ſeen ſo far north as Sweden; and conſe⯑quently is rare in England; is mentioned as a bird of Ruſſia, though perhaps it only inhabits the warmer parts; comes twice in a year into Switzerland, and is found alſo in Carniola; obſerved in Malta in Septem⯑ber on its paſſage ſouthward, and returns in ſpring to the north through the ſame track; comes into Conſtantinople in ſpring, and leaves it in September, but ſtays in Alexandria till the beginning of November, when it takes its leave; from this we muſt ſuppoſe that it winters in Africa and Aſia, eſpecially as this very bird has been brought from China and Bengal ^†, as well as the Cape of Good Hope.

A variety of this ſpecies, with the head and throat of a full black colour, is common in India, where it is called the Mango-bird, as it appears firſt at the ripening of that fruit, and is at that ſeaſon in great plenty ^‡.

"The neſt is of a curious conſtruction, but perhaps not quite ſo as ſome of the Orioles, though built after the ſame faſhion. It is of the ſhape of a purſe, faſtened to the extreme divarications of the out⯑moſt twigs of tall trees, and compoſed of fibres of hemp or ſtraw, mixed with fine dry ſtalks of graſs lined within with moſs and liver⯑wort. The female lays four or five eggs, of a dirty white, marked with ſmall dark-brown ſpots, which are thickeſt about the largeſt end: ſhe ſits three weeks, and is obſerved to be very tender of her young, [] fearing nothing for their defence; not unfrequently will ſuffer herſelf to be taken with the eggs and neſt, and continue to ſit upon them till ſhe dies."

"The food which this bird is moſt fond of is grapes and figs, in the ſeaſon, alſo cherries, &c. but at other times is contented with inſects, and what elſe it can get."

"It has a loud cry that may be heard far off; but I do not hear it remarked by any one for the leaſt ſong, though Geſner ſays it whiſtles before rain." Latham, Gen. Syn.

"Its note is loud and reſembles its name," Brit. Zool.

Willughby ſaw thoſe birds expoſed for ſale in the poulterers ſhops in Naples, where the fleſh is eſteemed as delicate food.

It is ſuſpected that the yellow and buff Jay ^* of Ray are the male and female of the Golden Oriole.

Length from the point of the bill to the end of the feet twelve inches; breadth twenty-one. Weight twelve ounces. The bill is an inch and a quarter long, and of a very ſingular ſhape, much compreſſed on the ſides, and near an inch and an half deep at the baſe; from whence both mandibles tend to a point, which is a little curved; acroſs the upper are four oblique furrows; on the under three: half next the point is red; that next the baſe blue grey; and at the baſe is a cere full of minute holes: the noſtrils are a long and narrow ſlit on each ſide, near the edge of the upper mandible, and parallel to it: the top of the head, the neck, and upper parts of the body black; beneath white: legs orange.

The bill, which gives ſuch an appearance of novelty to this bird, varies conſiderably according to its age; in the firſt year it is ſmall, weak, deſtitute of any furrow, and duſky; in the ſecond year it is larger, ſtronger, of a paler colour, and diſcovers a faint veſtige of a furrow near the baſe; but thoſe of the third or more advanced years, have a bill of great ſtrength and vivid colours as before deſcribed. Thoſe birds are ſuppoſed to be imperfect until the third year; or at leaſt not [] to breed before that period: not a ſingle one has ever been diſcovered at Prieſtholm which had not the bill of an uniform ſize ^*.

The male very nearly reſembles the female: in the former the white cheeks are ſometimes obſcured with a mixture of dark feathers, and in others a patch of the ſame colour has been obſerved on each ſide of the under jaw.

This ſpecies is very common in ſeveral parts on the coaſts of Eng⯑land; they are ſeen in flocks innumerable at Prieſtholm Iſle off the coaſt of Angleſea; in great numbers about the Needles, in the Iſles of Wight, Man, Bardſey, Caldey, Farn, Godreve, and other ſmall, and deſert iſlands near the ſhore. A few about the rocks of Dover.

They are frequent in Ireland; on the iſland of Sherries, three leagues N. N. W. of Holyhead; and in the S. Stack, near Holyhead they breed in abundance. Inhabit Iceland and Greenland, and breed in the extreme part of the iſlands, eſpecially on the weſt part of Diſco, and the iſland Orpikſauk ^†.

In the different parts it frequents, it has received a variety of appel⯑lations, but generally expreſſive of the ſingular ſhape of the beak; as Coulter-neb in the Farn iſles; Guldenhead, Bottle-noſe, and Helegug in Wales; at Scarborough, Mullet; at Cornwall, Pope ^‡, and in the Ferroe iſles, Lunda.

To what part thoſe birds emigrate on the approach of winter is very imperfectly known; it is probable when they retire from thoſe northern regions, their flight is directed to ſome more temperate climate; per⯑haps they live at ſea, and form thoſe multitudes of birds that navigators [] have obſerved in many parts of the ocean; they are always found there at certain ſeaſons, but retire at the breeding time to the northern lati⯑tudes, and during that time are found as near the Pole as navigators have ever penetrated ^*.

In America, they are ſaid to frequent Carolina; and have been met with in Sandwich Sound, by our late voyagers: the natives ornament the fore parts and collars of their ſeal-ſkin jackets with the beaks of them; and in Aoonalaſhka, they make gowns of their ſkins, along with thoſe of other birds.

On the coaſt of Kamtſchatka and the Kurilſchi iſlands they are very common, even on the Penſchinſki Bay, almoſt as far as Ochotka: the nations of the two firſt wear the bills about their necks faſtened to ſtraps; theſe are put on by their Shaman or Prieſt, for the people are perſuaded that by putting them on with a proper ceremony, they will procure good fortune to all their undertakings ^†.

"About the fifth or tenth of April, they arrive in vaſt quantities at Prieſtholm iſle; but quit the place again, and return twice or thrice before they ſettle to burrow, which they do the firſt week in May, when many of them diſlodge the rabbits from their holes, by which they ſave themſelves the trouble of forming one of their own: in the laſt caſe, they are ſo intent on what they are about, as to ſuffer them⯑ſelves to be taken by the hand. It has been obſerved that this taſk falls chiefly to the ſhare of the males, and that theſe laſt aſſiſt alſo in incuba⯑tion: this has been proved on diſſection. The female lays one white egg ^‡. The young are hatched the beginning of July: and about the [] eleventh of Auguſt they all go off, to a ſingle bird ^*, and ſo com⯑pletely as to deſert the young ones that are late hatched; leaving them a prey to the Peregrine Falcon, who watches at the mouth of the holes for them, as they through hunger, are compelled to come out. Notwithſtanding the neglect of their young at this time, no bird is more attentive to them in general, as they will ſuffer themſelves to be taken by the hand, and uſe every means of defence in their power to ſave them; and, if laid hold of by the wings, will give themſelves moſt cruel bites on any part of the body they can reach, as if actuated by deſpair; and when releaſed, inſtead of flying away, will often hurry away into the burrow to their young." Lat. Gen. Syn. 5. 316.— Arct. Zool.

Their fleſh is exceſſively rank, as they feed on fiſh, particularly ſprats, or on ſmall crabs, ſea-weeds, &c. yet that of the young birds is often pickled and preſerved with ſpices, and is much admired by ſome for its peculiar flavor ^†. Dr. Caius writes, that in his days the church allowed them in Lent, inſtead of fiſh; and alſo that they were taken by means of ferrets, as now they are by rabbits: at preſent they [] are either dug out, or drawn from their burrows by a hooked ſtick: they bite extremly hard, and keep ſuch faſt hold on whatever they faſten, that it is with difficulty they can be diſengaged; when they are taken, their noiſe is very diſagreeable, being like the efforts of a dumb perſon to ſpeak.

It flies with great ſtrength and ſwiftneſs when it gets on the wing, but meets with many falls before that can be effected: the legs are placed ſo far behind, that it cannot ſtand except quite erect; and at that time it reſts not only on the feet, but on the whole length of the legs alſo.

Linnaeus in the Fauna Succica ^* obſerves that this elegant bird receives its name from the ſound of its note; but by other naturaliſts it has been ſuſpected that its name was originally derived from the French huppè or creſted; as the creſt is of a very curious ſtructure, and alone is ſufficient to diſtinguiſh it from every other European bird. It is the only ſpecies of the Hoopoe genus that is peculiar to the conti⯑nent of Europe.

[]It inhabits Aſia and Africa, and is ſaid to be met with in the large foreſts of Sweden ^*, and in Auſtria ^†; and has been found as far north as the Orknies and Lapland, as well as in many of the intermediate places between them; at the Cape of Good Hope on one hand, and quite to Ceylon ^‡ and Java on the other. In Europe it is conſidered as a bird of paſſage, and is ſaid not to winter even in Greece ^§. In England ^‖ it is far from common, being ſeldom ſeen, and at uncertain times: it has been obſerved in Kent, Surrey, Northumberland, and Moyſton in Flintſhire, as well as in ſeveral other counties. A gentleman of vera⯑city in Eſſex informs us that one was diſcovered laſt year in a hole in his garden wall, but being frightened away did not return again to that place. Among other proofs of its migrating into, and even breeding in England, Mr. Latham has mentioned ſeveral. "The year 1783 ſeems to have been more abundant in theſe birds than any I have yet heard of; one being ſhot near Oxford, on the coaſt of Suffolk, in May, and another ſeen near the ſame place the 24th of June following: theſe no doubt had bred thereabouts. The place where theſe were ſeen was a remarkable barren ſpot. In the month of September of the ſame year two were ſhot at Holderneſs, and many were ſeen in various parts of Yorkſhire, and as far north as ^¶ Scotland. One was ſhot the 10th of September at Cam in Glouceſterſhire, another on Epping Foreſt, and a third in Surrey. A few years ſince a pair had begun to make a neſt in Hampſhire; but being too much diſturbed, forſook it, and went elſewhere ^**. The laſt year (1786) a young bird was ſent to me, the 10th of May, full-ſledged, ſhot near South-fleet, [] in Kent ^*; but the old birds had not been obſerved."—It was well known, as a viſitor in England, at the time Albin publiſhed his Hiſtory of Birds; his obſervations deſerve notice. "The hen of this bird was ſhot in the garden of Mr. Starkey Mayos, at Woodford on Epping Foreſt, where they had obſerved it ſome time, and uſed all the means to take it they could; but it was ſo ſhy, that it avoided all their traps which were laid for it; which the gentleman obſerving, ordered it to be ſhot: it was ſent to me to be preſerved for him.

Latham obſerves, "it is a ſolitary bird, and ſeldom more than two are ſeen together; though it is ſaid that in Egypt it aſſembles in ſmall troops. It is very common in Cairo, where it builds in the ſtreets, on the terraces of houſes, &c. It is alſo common in the deſerts of Ruſſia and Tartary, though ſcarce beyond the river Ob; however ſome are found beyond the Lake Baikal. Dr. Pallas confirms the account of the filthy manners of this bird, as he met with an inſtance of a pair breeding in the privy of an uninhabited houſe in the ſuburbs of Tzaritzn ^†.

"I am informed by colonel Davies, that they every year are ſeen in Gibraltar in March, in ſmall flocks of ten or twelve; hence are [] called there March Cocks. They are ſuppoſed to come from Africa, and to be on their paſſage north to ſome other place, as they only ſtay a few hours to reſt themſelves: and it is not uncommon to ſee five or ſix flocks in a week, during the time of their paſſage. He did not ob⯑ſerve them to have any note; but that they had a dipping kind of flight not unlike a Woodpecker. I have obſerved this Bird to be among paintings both from China and India; it is therefore no doubt com⯑mon to both thoſe parts." Lath. Gen. Syn.

In Sweden the appearance of this Bird is regarded as a preſage of war; and in England its viſits were formerly conſidered as ominous by the vulgar.

In Turkey it is called Tir Chaous, or the Meſſenger Bird from the reſemblance its creſt has to the plumes worn by the Chaous, or Turkiſh couriers.

Latham ſays, the female is like the male, and lays from two to ſeven eggs; but for the moſt part four or five. Theſe are ſomewhat leſs than thoſe of a Partridge, but longer and aſh-coloured. This Bird is ſaid to have two or three broods in a year, and to lay the eggs in the holes of trees, like the Woodpecker, but in general to make no neſt: notwithſtanding which, Buffon obſerved, that two out of ſix neſts, which were brought to him for inſpection, had a ſoft lining of moſs, wool, leaves, feathers, and the like; and he is of opinion, that when this is the caſe, the bird has made uſe of the old neſt of ſome other bird. It will alſo lay, and hatch the young in holes of walls, and even on the ground. The food of this bird is inſects; and it is the exuviae of the large beetles, and ſuch like, with which the neſt is crouded, that cauſe the neſt to ſtink ſo horribly; inſomuch that former writers aſſerted the neſt to be made of excrement.

[]In Sepp's plate the neſt is placed in the hollow of a tree; it is compoſed of ſoft bents, and ſmooth within. The eggs, four in number, of a blueiſh white, marked with pale brown ſpots.

Buffon mentions one of this ſpecies which lived with a lady for three months, ſubſiſting only on bread and cheeſe; and, contrary to the common opinion, drank frequently, and that by gulps. Another was kept for eighteen months on raw meat, and would not eat any thing elſe.

Olina ſays, that this bird lives three years.

In ſome countries it is eſteemed as good eating. It ſeldom perches on trees, unleſs they are very low. It does not erect its creſt, except when agitated by ſurprize: in a natural ſtate the creſt falling behind the neck ^*; but whenever it alights on the ground, it is ſaid to ſpread its creſt beautifully.

Some authors mention a variety of this ſpecies. Kolben ^† mentions one at the Cape of Good Hope, which is ſmaller; the bill ſhorter in proportion; and the legs longer: the creſt is not ſo long, and has no trace of white in it throughout: and in general the plumage is leſs variegated. Another ſpecimen from the ſame place, had the upper part of the beak of a deep brown, and the belly varied with brown and white; but as this was leſs in every reſpect, it was probably a young bird.

Gerini mentions one which he ſaw at Florence, and again on the Alps, which had the creſt bordered with ſky-blue. Orn. Ital. Hiſt. des [...]is. VI. p. 462.

This bird is ſuppoſed to breed in Bohemia and other parts of Ger⯑many, but its ſummer reſidence is perhaps more northward; it is ſeen in plenty both at St. Peterſburgh and Moſcow, in the winter; but comes from the north and departs again to the Arctic circle in ſpring; never known to breed in Ruſſia, is ſcarce in Siberia, and has not been obſerved-beyond the river Lena ^*.

All the birds of this genus are natives of America; this ſpecies ex⯑cepted; they wander from their native place all over Europe, and at un⯑certain times viſit the Southern parts of Britain. They are obſerved in the Northern parts; about Edinburgh in February they come an⯑nually [] and feed on the berries of the mountain aſh: they alſo appear as far ſouth as Northumberland and Yorkſhire frequently, and like the fieldfare make the berries of the white-thorn their food ^*. They have alſo been met with ſeveral times near London ^†. They diſappear in ſpring ^‡. In France and Italy they are not unfrequent.

The neſts of thoſe birds are ſaid to be conſtructed in the holes of rocks ^§, but as we can ſcarcely determine even their native country, we need not expect any ſatisfactory information relative to its eggs and neſt, until ſome future traveller ſhall be ſo fortunate as to diſcover them.

The general food is berries of all kinds, eſpecially grapes; in countries where they are plenty they are eſteemed good food.

It is ſaid that the females want the red appendages at the end of the ſecond quills ^‖, as well as the yellow marks on the back ^**.

A variety of this bird is alſo found in America from Carolina to Mexico, it is the AMPELIS GARRULUS of Linnaeus, Le jaſeur de la Caroline, of Briſſon and Buffon; Caquautototl, Raii; and Chatterer of Carolina, of Edwards, Cateſby, &c.

This bird is leſs than the European kind, is much like it, except that the belly is of a pale yellow inſtead of reddiſh; both ſexes have [] the wings of a plain colour without the marks of yellow: the female has no appendages at the ends of the ſecond quills, and the plumage is leſs lively than in the male.

This variety is called the Recollect at Quebec; our late voyagers met with this bird at Aoonalſhka ^*.

This ſpecies meaſures fourteen or fifteen inches from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the tail: extent twenty three, weight nineteen ounces. Its ſummer dreſs varies exceedingly from that which it aſ⯑ſumes in winter; in the former the general colour is pale brown, or aſh-colour, not inelegantly marked, or mottled with duſky bars, ſpots, [] ruſt colour, &c. in both ſexes, but in the latter, the female is entirely of a very beautiful white; the male of the ſame colour, but is diſtin⯑guiſhed by a dark daſh, or line which paſſes from the bill to the eye, and by the ſhafts of the firſt ſeven quill feathers being black; the twelve extreme feathers of the tail are of the ſame black colour.

Our figure is copied from a male bird which has not wholly aſſumed its winter appearance, but is in the laſt ſtage of changing its ſummer dreſs, as appears from the ſlight intermixture of dark feathers on its breaſt and back.

It inhabits moſt of the northern parts of Europe, even as far as Groenland, in Ruſſia and Siberia it is very frequent; it is ſeen in plenty on the Alpine mountains of Savoy, on the Alps, and mount Cenis.

In Great Britain it is met with on the ſummits of the higheſt hills in the Highlands of Scotland. Hebrides, and Orknies, and a few yet inhabit the lofty hills near Keſwick in Cumberland, as well as Wales ^*. They live amidſt the rocks, and perch on the grey ſtones, the general colour of the ſtrata in thoſe ſituations.

Willughby has deſcribed the Ptarmigan under the name of the White Game. M. Briſſon ^† joins it with the White Partridge of Edwards, but Pennant has given as his deciſive opinion that they are two diſ⯑tinct ſpecies. "I have received both ſpecies at the ſame time from Norway, and am convinced that they are not the ſame." Penn.

The female lays eight or ten eggs, ſpotted with red-brown, the ſize of thoſe of a Pigeon, on the earth, in a ſtony ſituation, about the middle of June ^‡.

[]Authors agree that they are ſtupid ſilly birds, and are ſo tame as to be drawn into any ſnare; or ſuffer themſelves to be taken by the hand; if the hen is killed the male will not forſake her. The Greenlanders take them with nooſes tied to a long line, which being carried by two men is drawn over their heads.

^* Their food conſiſts of the buds of trees, young ſhoots of pine, heath, fruits, and berries which grow on the mountains: on the con⯑tinent they feed on the Dwarf Birch and Black-berried Heath, or ſometimes on the various kinds of Liver-wort.

"They taſte ſo like a Grous as to be ſcarcely diſtinguiſhed; like the Grous they keep in ſmall packs; but never like thoſe birds take ſhelter in the heath; but beneath looſe ſtones."

In winter they lie in heaps, in lodges which they form under the ſnow.

This ſpecies is near ſeventeen inches in length; the plumage is en⯑tirely black, except the crown of the head, which is of a vermilion colour, rather inclining to crimſon; the bill, and claws, are of con⯑ſiderable ſtrength, particularly the latter, which are curved in a more formidable manner than thoſe even of many rapacious birds of equal magnitude.

The female differs from the male in the general colour of the plu⯑mage; that of the female, having a ſtrong caſt of brown on the back, and the vermilion coloured feathers, with which the whole crown of the male is inveſted, being only ſparingly diffuſed on the crown of the fe⯑male, though they terminate in a rich tuft on the hind part of the head.

Both male and female are very liable to variations in the red on the crown; ſome are adorned with a profuſion of thoſe feathers, while others have ſcarcely any; and ſpecimens have been met with entirely black, without even a trace of the vermilion colour on their heads.

As an Engliſh Woodpecker it is the largeſt we have; it even con⯑ſiderably exceeds the ſize of the GREEN WOODPECKER, Picus Viri⯑dis. It is very rare in this country, and generally believed to have been only obſerved in the ſouthern parts, and in Devonſhire ^*.

[]It is found in almoſt every part of Europe, but is plenty only in Germany; it is rarely ſeen in France; never in Italy; and only during the ſummer in Sweden, Switzerland, and Denmark. Extends to Ruſſia, where it is common in the woods from St. Peterſburgh, to Ochotſk on the eaſtern Ocean, and to Lapmark on the weſt ^*.

"This ſpecies is ſo very deſtructive to Bees, that the Baſchirians in the neighbourhood of the river Ufa, as well as the inhabitants of other parts, (who form holes in the trees twenty-five or thirty feet from the ground, wherein the Bees may depoſit their ſtore), take every precaution to hinder the acceſs of this bird; and in particular are cau⯑tious to guard the mouth, of the hive with ſharp thorns; notwithſtand⯑ing which, the Woodpecker finds means to prove a very deſtructive enemy: and it is obſerved to be in moſt plenty where the Bees are in the greateſt numbers ^†." Latham.

Its food does not conſiſt entirely of Bees; Albin writes of the bird he has figured, "The guts are ſeventeen inches long, great and lax; the ſtomach alſo lax and membraneous, full of Hexapods and Ants. It wants the appendices or blind guts as the reſt of this tribe."

Its neſt is capacious and deep, and is ſaid to be uſually built in old Aſh or Poplar trees; Friſch obſerves, that they often ſo excavate a tree, that it is ſoon after blown down with the wind; and that under the hole of this bird may often be found a buſhel of duſt and bits of wood.

The female lays two or three white eggs; which colour, according to Willughby ^‡, is peculiar to the whole genus, or at leaſt to all thoſe which have come under his inſpection.

The Yellow Wren ranks among the leaſt of the Britiſh Birds; it meaſures only four inches and three quarters from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the tail. The colours of its plumage are not at⯑tractive, neither do we introduce it as a rare bird, being one of our moſt frequent ſpecies; but it is a very delicately formed creature, ex⯑ceedingly active, and by concealing itſelf immediately among the thickeſt of the foliage when any noiſe approaches, it may not be ſo generally known as ſome leſs timid birds.

It chiefly frequents large woods, which abound with willows; and builds its neſt at the roots of trees, or in the hollows of dry banks; it is conſtructed in the form of an egg, with a hole at the top for its entrance, the outſide is compoſed of moſs and hay, or ſtraw; and the inſide is lined with ſoft feathers, wool, or hair. It lays ſeven white eggs ^*, or, according to Latham and Albin, only five; they are freckled all over with reddiſh ſpots. Its note is low and plaintive, ſcarcely more than twit, twit ^†, which it utters when it is running up and down the branches of trees in ſearch of inſects on which it feeds. It is ſaid that the male has a ſong during incubation, far from unplea⯑ſing, and is ſoft, though weak. It is migratory, but viſits us early.

[] Albin ſays it ſings like a graſhopper, and frequents woods and ſoli⯑tary places, ſitting on the tops of oaks.

Pennant obſerves, that the breaſt, belly, and thighs, vary in colour in different birds; in ſome thoſe parts are of a bright yellow, in others they fade almoſt into white. The legs alſo appear to admit of varia⯑tion, thoſe of our ſpecimens are yellowiſh in both ſexes, Albin de⯑ſcribes thoſe of his male ſpecimen to be pale amber colour, and thoſe of the hen to be black.

Latham, in his Gen. Syn. has given a deſcription of four other birds, which he conſiders only as varieties of the MOTACILLA TROCHILUS. Among thoſe are included the GREATER NON-CRESTED REGULUS of Willughby, and the MOTACILLA ACREDULA of Lin⯑naeus. This latter bird appears in the Britiſh Zoology of Pennant as a new ſpecies, (the Scotch Wren;) it has been alſo conſidered as a diſtinct kind in the writings of ſome, and the ſynonymas of others, as Briſſon, Buffon, Ray, Sloane, Cateſby, and Edwards, but as it dif⯑fered from our ſpecies only in the colour of the upper parts, inclining more to brown than to green, and the lower parts more to yellow, Mr. Latham concluded it was only a variety. It is a native of Ja⯑maica, Carolina, and America; but one was communicated to Mr. Latham by E. S. Fraſer, Eſq. who informed him that it was ſhot in the Highlands of Scotland.

The Yellow Wagtail is not equal in ſize to the Common, or White Wagtail, it meaſures only ſix inches and a quarter in length. It is a bird of diſtinguiſhed beauty, particularly the male, whoſe plumage is for the moſt part of a very lovely yellow, by no means inferior to that of the male Golden Oriole; the yellow colour on the [] breaſt of the female is paler, the ſtreak over the eye whiter, and it wants the black markings on the throat.

It is uſually obſerved in moiſt meadows, and corn-fields in this country in the ſummer-time; but migrates, or ſhifts its ſituation in the winter: Pennant ſays it continues in Hampſhire the whole year.

It makes its neſt in the corn-fields on the ground, the outſide is compoſed of bents and fibres of the roots, the inſide is lined with hair. They are commonly found with five eggs in them, of a whitiſh colour, varied with red brown ſpots.

Is ſeen in France at all times of the year, except the winter is un⯑commonly ſevere. Is ſaid to inhabit Sweden, Ruſſia, Siberia, and Kamtſchatka.

Latham deſcribes the legs, black: thoſe of our ſpecimens are brown.

This bird is very common in England; is ſaid to inhabit Sweden, and thence to extend even to Italy; the fulneſs of its plumage enables it to bear the inclemencies of the northern regions in winter, but it admits of ſome ſurprize that ſuch as are found in warmer countries are not clothed with a plumage more adapted to the climate.

The length is five inches and a quarter, the breadth ſeven inches, the tail is remarkably long in proportion to the ſize of the body; in form it is like that of a magpie, conſiſts of twelve feathers of unequal lengths; thoſe in the middle are the longeſt, thoſe on each ſide grow gradually ſhorter. The legs are generally black, but of ſome ſpecimens are brown.

[]The form of the neſt is almoſt peculiar to this ſpecies only, it is of an oval ſhape, with a ſmall hole or entrance in the ſide; the mate⯑rials of the external part are moſs, liverwort, and wool, curiouſly in⯑terwoven, the inſide is lined with a thick bed of the ſofteſt feathers. The neſt is not ſuſpended from a bough as is uſual with ſome of the tribe, but is built between the forked branches of low wood, about three feet from the ground: they generally contain from ten to ſeven⯑teen or even twenty eggs of greyiſh colour, ſpeckled with pale red-brown.

Thoſe birds are moſt frequent in gardens and orchards, to which they do much injury by devouring the tender ſhoots; they are very active, and fly to and fro with great facility, or run up and down the branches in every direction. The parents and their offspring remain together the whole winter, but ſeparate in the ſpring ^*.

The male has more of the roſe colour than the female; in the former however it is ſubject to much variation.

The male Pine Groſbeak is certainly one of the moſt beautiful of the feathered tribe that inhabit either of the ſiſter countries of Great Britain. It meaſures nine inches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, its weight two ounces; the general colour of its plu⯑mage is roſe-coloured crimſon, and black, elegantly marked with white on the edges of the feathers: the bill, which is remarkably ſtout, and curved at the tip, is well adapted for the purpoſe of dividing the cones of the pines to obtain the ſeeds.

The female has not the beautiful appearance of the male; the principal colour of her plumage is dirty green, inclining to brown, the crown of the head varied only with a few reddiſh or yellowiſh teints, and ſome feathers of the ſame colour ſlightly diſperſed over the back, breaſt, and belly.

In England this ſpecies is found only in the moſt northern parts, or is probably entirely confined to Scotland; like the Croſsbill it inhabits the pine foreſts in the Highlands; Pennant ſuſpects that they breed there, as he has obſerved them flying above the great pine foreſts of Inver⯑cauld, Aberdcenſhire, in the month of Auguſt.

[]It is found in the pine foreſts alſo of Sweden, the northern parts of Ruſſia ^*, of Siberia, and Lapland; they are alſo common in the northern parts of America: from April to September they are frequent at Hudſon's Bay; the ſouthern ſettlements are inhabited by them throughout the year. It has been met with at Aoonalaſhka ^†, and in Norton Sound.

Latham obſerves, that at Hudſon's Bay it frequents the groves of pines and junipers in May; and makes a neſt in the trees with ſticks lined with feathers, at a ſmall height from the ground. The eggs are four in number, and white; the young are hatched the middle of June: he adds, "though this bird, when adult, is beautiful in colour, the young brood for ſome time remain of a plain dull blue." The natives of the Bay call it Wuſcunithow ^‡.

Thoſe Birds migrate to our ſhores in the ſpring, but are never very numerous; they remain with us during the ſummer, and depart in autumn. They run lightly, and with much ſwiftneſs, and when diſ⯑turbed take ſhort flights; at the ſame time they make a loud twitter⯑ing noiſe.

The female makes no neſt, but depoſits four eggs on the ground, under ſome convenient ſhelter; the eggs are about one inch and an half in length, of a dull whitiſh colour, ſpotted and blotched with black.

[]The ſame ſpecies is found in ſeveral parts of the Continent; in Greenland, and in America. Latham obſerves that it viſits Hudſon's Bay the middle of June, and departs in September. He adds, "it is a ſolitary bird; and obſerved, on any one's approaching near the eggs, to uſe many ſtratagems to decoy the perſon from it, by drawing off its attention. Called at Hudſon's Bay, Kiſqua, the napi Shiſh."— Gen. Syn.

The ſame writer alſo mentions a variety which inhabits Cayenne; the length of this variety is ſix inches and an half. Bill black: fore⯑head, and before as far as the breaſt, white, paſſing round the lower part of the neck as a collar: the reſt of the plumage pale duſky aſh-colour: the end half of the tail duſky black, the tip fringed with ru⯑fous: legs pale.

The length of the male is twelve inches, of the female ten inches; the bill of the former is yellow in ſome, in others black, or dark brown; the face is covered with yellow pear-ſhaped pimples; the back part of the head and neck are furniſhed with long feathers, which expand in a very ſingular manner on each ſide of the neck, and impend looſely over the breaſt, like the ruff anciently worn in this country. A portion or tuft of thoſe feathers project alſo juſt beyond each eye, and have the appearance of long ears.

As the moſt remarkable peculiarity of thoſe birds are that no two ſpecimens are ever found to agree in the colours of the plumage, it is impoſſible to give any deſcription, except of its form, that may aſſiſt the unſkilful ornithologiſt to determine the ſpecies, when it [] has attained the ruff; it cannot, however, be miſtaken, as no Bird of this country reſembles it in the ſmalleſt degree. The ground colour is generally brown, but it varies in different Birds to every hue between the lighteſt teint that can deſerve that name, and the deepeſt chocolate colour; ſometimes we find the ruff of a fine tender buff colour, without the ſlighteſt appearance of ſpots, except on the breaſt and back, which may be of a deep black, intermingled with a few white feathers, and gloſſed with ſhining purple; others we find that have the ruffs of a deep brown, barred with black; ſome with white ruffs ſpotted with brown, or brown ſpotted with white; and indeed with every variation that it is poſſible to deſcribe.

The females, or Reeves, Pennant aſſerts, never change their colours, which he ſays are pale brown; the back ſpotted with black, ſlightly edged with white; the tail brown; the middle feathers ſpotted with black; the breaſt and belly white; the legs of a pale dull yellow: but I have two ſpecimens that do not well agree with his deſcription, or correſpond with each other; and in the Leverian muſeum a variety of that ſex is preſerved that is wholly white, except the wings, on which the uſual markings are viſible in a very pale colour.

The female has no ruff, and the male does not attain that appendage until the ſecond ſeaſon; at the time of incubation the plumage of the latter is in the full perfection, and the pimples break out on his face: but after that time they ſhrink beneath the ſkin, the long feathers of the ruff fall off, and he again aſſumes the plain appearance of the female.

Theſe Birds inhabit the North of Europe in ſummer, as far as Ice⯑land, as well as the northern marſhes of Ruſſia and Siberia. In this country they are found in Lincolnſhire, the Iſle of Ely, and in the eaſt [] riding of Yorkſhire ^*; they arrive at thoſe places early in the ſpring, and diſappear about Michaelmas.

The Reeve lays four eggs in a tuft of graſs the beginning of May; they are white, marked with large ruſty ſpots.

Soon after their arrival, the males begin to hill; that is, to collect on ſome dry bank near a ſplaſh of water, in expectation of the females. Each male keeps poſſeſſion of a ſmall piece of ground, round which it runs ſo often as to form a bare circular path; the inſtant a female alights among them, the males are in motion; a general battle enſues, and the fowlers, who have been waiting for the advantage of ſuch an event, catch them in their nets in great numbers ^†.

In the fens each male remains within his circle, and defends himſelf againſt every invader with much reſolution; the leaſt infringement on his poſſeſſion by another male is reſented with the greateſt violence; and if any farther attack is made, a battle is the conſequence: in fighting they have the ſame action as a cock, ſpread their ruffs, and place their bills to the ground.

"It is uſual to ſat theſe birds for table by means of bread and milk mixed with hemp-ſeed, and ſometimes boiled wheat; to theſe by many ſugar is added; which laſt in a fortnight's time will cauſe them to be one lump of fat, when they will fetch from two ſhillings to half a crown each."—Lath. Gen. Syn.

The Smew is about ſixteen inches in length, and twenty-four inches in breadth; its weight thirty-four ounces; our figure is copied from a ſpecimen of the male. The colours of the female do not exactly correſpond with thoſe of the male; the head of the former is fer⯑ruginous, and ſlightly creſted; cheeks, chin, and throat, white; be⯑tween the bill and the eye the ſame oval ſpot as in the male; breaſt clouded with grey; belly white; legs pale aſh. It is generally called the Lough Diver.

[]It viſits this country only in the winter; on the Continent it is found as far ſouth as Carniola; is alſo found in Iceland, and is ſup⯑poſed to breed and remain there during the winter; or that it paſſes to ſome other arctic region. It has been obſerved with the Mergan⯑ſers, Ducks, and other Water Birds in their migratory courſe up the Wolga in February ^*.

It alſo inhabits America, having been ſent from New-York ^†.

Latham, in his ſupplement, ſays that he once diſcovered a few ſhrimps in the belly of one of thoſe birds, and ſuppoſes them to be its chief food.

This ſpecies is found in England in the Winter; at that time alſo it is ſeen in France. In April it departs, and migrates to the North as the Summer advances, to breed.

[]In Europe it is found as far as Sweden; it is very common throughout Ruſſia and Siberia, and as far as Kamtſchatka.

Our figure is of the male bird; the female has an obſcure white mark over the eye, the reſt of the plumage is of a browniſh aſh co⯑lour.

The Coldfinch, or according to Latham and Pennant, the Pied Fly-catcher, is found in Yorkſhire, Lancaſhire, and Derbyſhire; in thoſe parts of the kingdom it is not very frequent, in every other it is ex⯑tremely rare.

It is unneceſſary for us to deſcribe the many varieties that are known of this ſpecies; in England the colours of its plumage varies conſi⯑derably at different ſeaſons of the year; but ſuch as are natives of fo⯑reign countries, are again ſo diſſimilar to ours, that different authors have alternately deſcribed them as varieties, or new ſpecies.

The bird that Latham deſcribes, was white on the outer web of the exterior tail feather; the two exterior tail feathers of Willoughby's bird was marked with white; and on the contrary, we have a ſpeci⯑men which does not exhibit the leaſt trace of white on either. The upper tail coverts are black and white mixed, in ſome ſpecimens; in others they are wholly black; and Le Gobe-mouche noir of Briſſon, which is only another variety, differs in having a mixture of grey on [] the upper parts, the thighs brown and white, and three of the exte⯑rior tail feathers white on the margins.

A more pleaſing variety than either, is found in Lorraine and Brie; it correſponds in ſize with thoſe found in England; but the white of the breaſt which terminates under the cheeks in the latter, paſſes quite round the neck like a collar in the former ^*.

The plumage of the female is brown in thoſe parts where the male is black; it has no white on the forehead; the white ſpot on the wing is more obſcure; and the under parts of the body is of a duſky white. The male poſſeſſes only the full black during the ſummer; as that ſeaſon declines, its plumage alters, and it gradually aſſumes ſo per⯑fectly the appearance of the female, that he cannot be diſtinguiſhed from her.

The neſt is uſually built in the hole of a tree, not very near the ground; it is compoſed of fibres, mixed with moſs, and contains ſix eggs. It feeds on Inſects.

The length of this ſpecies is fourteen inches; its breadth thirty; and its weight four ounces and a quarter. It is very common on the ſea-coaſts, banks of lakes and rivers in this country during ſummer; it quits the breeding places at the approach of winter, and returns in ſpring.

It is found in various parts of Europe and Aſia; in the ſummer as far as Greenland and Spitzbergen. It is alſo found in America; arrives at New England in May, and diſappears in Autumn. At Hudſon's Bay it is known by the name of Black-head ^*.

[]Dr. Forſter mentions a variety at Hudſon's Bay, having the Legs black; Tail ſhorter and leſs forked; and the outer feathers wholly white ^*: The Bird Albin has figured in his plate 88, vol. 2. appears alſo to be a variety; the legs are black, and the bill is of the ſame colour, except the tip, which is red.

Theſe Birds breed among tufts of ruſhes, graſs, or moſs near the water ſide; they lay three or four eggs, about an inch and three quarters in length, of a dull olive colour, marked with irregular black ſpots, and ſprinkled with ſpecks of an obſcure brown in June; the young birds are hatched in July, and quit the neſt ſoon after.

They feed on ſmall fiſh and water inſects; are very clamorous and daring; and during the time of incubation, will dart on any perſon who may paſs by their neſt, though they ſhould neither provoke nor diſturb them.

It appears to have all the actions over the water which the Swallow has on land, ſkimming and deſcribing vaſt circuits over the ſurface of the waves when ſeeking its prey, diving with intrepidity the inſtant it diſcovers it, and inſtantly appearing again on the wing with the fiſh in its mouth. Notwithſtanding the affinity of its actions with thoſe of the Swallow, Pennant, in the Britiſh Zoology, has altered the name to Tern, "a name," he obſerves in a note, "theſe birds are known by in the North of England; and which we ſubſtitute inſtead of the old compound one of Sea-Swallow; which was given them on account of their forked tails."

The Water-Ouzel is a very ſhy and ſolitary bird, and though well known as a Britiſh ſpecies, is generally confined to ſuch parts as abound with ſmall rivulets, or with waters that courſe between the craggy fragments of mountains; it is therefore that we find it plenty only in Wales, Cumberland, Yorkſhire, and Weſtmoreland.

[]It feeds on ſmall fiſh and inſects: its neſt is built among the ſtones on the ground near the water ſide; beneath the ſmall ſhelving rocks that over-hang the ſtreams it frequents; or in holes contrived in ſteep and perpendicular banks; it is compoſed of hay and fibres of roots, is lined with dead oak leaves, has a covering of green moſs, and contains five eggs of a white colour with a bluſh of red. In young birds the belly is wholly white.

Moſt authors have noticed the very ſingular manner in which it ſearches for its prey, it not only dives under the water, but will fly and run after them at the bottom in the ſame manner as on land ^*: Kramer ſays, that one of them had been caught under water by means of a line and hook, which had been baited to catch fiſh ^†.

Theſe birds are ſmaller than the Ring-Ouzel, their length is ſeven, and breadth eleven inches, weight two ounces and an half; they are found in Europe as high as Feroe and Finmark ^‡; as far as Kamtſ⯑chatka in the Ruſſian dominions; in Chriſtianſoe and Norway.