The Gooſander is never ſeen in the ſouthern parts of Great-Bri⯑tain, except in very ſevere winters. In ſummer it retires northward to breed; continues the whole year in the Orknies, and has been ſhot in the Hebrides in ſummer; it frequents rivers and lakes, and feeds on fiſh. In winter it appears about Sandwich, with the Smew, Red-breaſted Merganſer, and other water birds.

It is common in the northern parts of the Continent of Europe and Aſia. In ſummer is found in Iceland, Greenland, Lapland, and other Arctic regions, where it rears it's young; but migrates towards the ſouth as the winter ſeaſon approaches. In America alſo it aban⯑dons the more northern parts in winter.

Length of this Bird is twenty-eight inches; breadth forty: weight nearly four pounds.

The Bird we have figured is generally conſidered as the male, and the Dun-Diver as the female of the ſame ſpecies; and among the more reſpectable Naturaliſts who have held this opinion, we muſt place Linnaeus, and ſince his time Mr. Pennant ^*; Mr. Latham, [] to whoſe abilities and attention the ſcience of Ornithology is ſo much indebted, has, however, endeavoured to prove, not only that they are two diſtinct ſpecies, but that the Mergus Caſtor of Linnaeus is a mere variety ^* of the Dun-Diver, or ſuppoſed female of the Mergus Merganſer, our preſent ſpecies.

Mr. Latham alſo obſerves, among other minute particulars, that the Dun-Diver is ever leſs than the Gooſander; and individuals of that bird differ greatly in ſize: that in one ſpecimen the creſt of the ſup⯑poſed female was longer and fuller than in that thought to be the male; a circumſtance obſerved in no other bird that is furniſhed with a creſt; for in ſuch the females in many caſes have not even the rudiment of one. He ſays alſo, on the authority of Dr. Heyſham, that the Dun-Diver is infinitely more common in Cum⯑berland than the Gooſander, at leaſt ten or fifteen of the firſt, to one of the laſt. And he farther adds in the Supplement, "I have been lately informed by Dr. Heyſham, that he ſome time ſince diſ⯑ſected two Dun-Divers, the one weighing about two pounds: this proved a female; the eggs numerous, and appearing very diſtinct. The other bird being much larger, weighed full three pounds. The creſt in this was longer than that of the other, and the belly of a bright buff colour. This proved, on diſſection, a male."

This ſpecies continues with us the whole year: about the latter end of harveſt they collect together in flocks, and ſeparate again in ſpring: they feed on corn, oats, and moſt other kinds of grain, which they eaſily bruiſe with the hard protuberance with which the inſide of the upper mandible is furniſhed.

The female builds the neſt among low buſhes, and lays five or ſix eggs; ſhe can ſcarcely be diſtinguiſhed from the male, except by the colour of her plumage, being ſomewhat paler. Length ſix inches and an half.

It is common in this country, though much leſs ſo than the Yellow-hammer, which alſo is a ſpecies of the Bunting genus: they are found in vaſt numbers in Italy, in Germany, and in the ſouthern parts of Ruſſia, Sweden and Denmark.—They are frequently ſhot, or taken in nets, and ſold for Larks, or Bunting Larks.

Albin ſays, "It ſings ſitting upon the higheſt twigs of trees or ſhrubs;" but Latham obſerves it has no ſong, only a ſcream, or tre⯑mulous kind of ſhriek, three or four times repeated.

The male of this ſpecies is much more beautiful than the female; the former (of which a figure is given in the annexed plate,) weighs about ſix ounces and a half: its length fourteen inches; and meaſures, when the wings are expanded, twenty-ſeven inches between each tip. The female weighs eleven ounces: the colour of the back and wings is more pale and duſky than in the male; and the middle of each feather is marked with an oblong dark ſtreak, pointing down⯑wards: the breaſt of a dirty yellowiſh white; and the tail pale red brown, croſſed with numerous black bars.

It is not uncommon in England, and many other parts of Europe; it breeds in the hollows of trees, cavities of rocks, old buildings, &c. It lays four eggs, of a pale ferruginous colour, marked with irregular ſpots of a deeper hue ^*. It feeds on mice, ſmall birds, and inſects; and throws up the fur and feathers in the form of a round ball.

This bird was formerly uſed in falconry, to catch ſmall birds and young partridges.

This bird is found in the ſouthern parts of England in winter. It is ſaid to be found as far ſouth as latitude 37, being met with in the iſland of Fino; in the Archipelago ^*, it migrates towards the north in ſummer, to breed along with the other Merganſers; and is therefore met with during that ſeaſon in Iceland, Lapland, and other Arctic regions.

Length fourteen inches and a half: breadth twenty-three inches: weight fifteen ounces.

The Peregrine Falcon is very common in the north of Scotland; where it is trained for falconry; it does not, however, appear to be common in England. It breeds on ſome high rocks near Gilſland [] in Cumberland: in the mountains about Keſwick ^*; and on the rocks of Llandidno in Caernarvonſhire ^†.

It is common on the continent of Europe, in ſummer; inhabits alſo Kamtſchatka, moſt parts of America, &c. It varies very much at different periods of age; one mentioned by Pennant, had the whole under ſide of the body of a deep dirty yellow, but marked with black, as uſual, in other ſpecimens. It feeds on ſmaller birds, as partridges, plovers, moor game, &c. The ſize of this ſpecies is generally about nineteen inches in length, breadth thirty-eight inches, weight thirty-ſix ounces.

This elegant Bittern is rarely met with in this country. The firſt inſtance we find on record, on which we can venture to deſcribe it, as a Britiſh ſpecies, is that of a male ſpecimen having been ſhot as it perched on one of the trees, in the quarry, or public walks in Shrewſbury, on the banks of the Severn. This account, together with a general deſcription and drawing of the bird, was communi⯑cated by Mr. Plymley of Lagnor, Shropſhire, to Mr. Pennant, who inſerted them in the Appendix to his Britiſh Zoology ^*.

Additional authority is alſo given to this circumſtance by Mr. Latham, in the fifth volume of the Synopſis of Birds; he ſays, "another ſpecimen was killed in 1773, near Chriſt Church in Hampſhire, now ^† in the Muſeum of Mr. Turnſtall." He obſerves they have been found frequently in Arabia, but are ſcarce in other parts. In France are very rare.

This bird does not exceed fifteen inches from the bill to the tip of the tail; it's form is graceful, it's body not larger than that of a thruſh. According to Sepp, it lays four eggs, of a white colour, and ſize of a blackird's; the neſt is compoſed of bits of ſticks, with ſome flag leaves interſperſed.

This bird meaſures thirteen inches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail; to the claws nearly eighteen inches. The extraor⯑dinary and very diſproportionate length of the legs gives it ſuch an uncommon appearance, that we may pronounce it, with ſtrict pro⯑priety, the moſt ſingular ſpecies ever met with in this country.

It is alſo not leſs rare than ſingular. Sir Robert Sibbald records a brace that were ſhot in Scotland; another was ſhot a few years ago on Stanton-Harcourt Common near Oxford ^*: and Mr. White, bookſeller, of Fleet-ſtreet, has a ſpecimen which was ſhot out of a flock of ſix or ſeven, in Frenchman-ponds, in Hampſhire. This bird does not perfectly agree in it's plumage with our ſpecimen, but is no doubt only a mere difference in the ſex.

According to Latham it is common in Egypt; plentiful about the ſalt lakes, and often on the ſhores of the Caſpian Sea; and in the ſouthern deſerts of Independent Tartary. Found alſo at Madras, in the Eaſt Indies; and in the warmer parts of America.

This Bird frequents marſhy places with other ſpecies of the ſame tribe. It makes a very large neſt of graſs and aquatic plants in the water, without any faſtening to the banks, ſo that the neſt riſes or falls with the water: it lays five or ſix eggs of a dirty yellowiſh white colour, which are kept conſtantly wet by the water that riſes through the neſt: the natural warmth of the Bird when ſitting excites a fer⯑mentation in the vegetables, and ſerves to hatch the young brood.

It is a moſt expert diver, and is ſaid by Salerne ^* to be able to ſtay a quarter of an hour under water. If purſued it plunges into the water, and ſeldom appears again within the reach of gun-ſhot.

Length of this ſpecies is ten inches, weight ſix ounces and a half. The male very nearly correſponds in colours with the female, and both vary according to their age. Having no tail, and the legs being placed far behind, give a very aukward and clumſy appearance to this bird. Common in moſt parts of Europe, and mentioned as a native of America.

This is a very beautiful bird, it frequents gardens and orchards where it does much injury to the fruit trees by tearing off the bloſſoms, in ſearch of the eggs and larva of inſects. The female builds its neſt in holes of walls, or trees, and lays from fourteen or fifteen to twenty eggs; it is ſaid to deſert its neſt, if any of the eggs are touched or broken: but defends its young when hatched, with much ſpirit. Length of this ſpecies four inches and a half.

This is a large bird, it meaſures more than three feet in length, in breadth four feet ſix inches: weight ſixteen pounds.

It is far from common on our ſhores, and is entirely confined to the northern parts of the iſland, except in very ſevere winters. If we conſider the authority of Albin worth quoting on this occaſion, we may conclude it was ſcarcely known as a native of this country in his time: he has given a figure of it in the third volume, plate 93. and ſays, "It was brought from Newfoundland, and preſented to the Right Honourable the Lord Ilay, who was pleaſed to lend it me to draw its picture." Willoughby mentions one being taken in the iſland of Jerſey; and Latham, in a note, ſays, "One of theſe was caught alive near Keſwick, in Cumberland, in July, 1781. It was, as is ſuppoſed, making for the lake, but grew tired before it had power to reach it. Dr. Heyſham."

This laſt circumſtance is very remarkable, as it lives for the moſt part on the open ſea, and except in the breeding ſeaſon ſeldom frequents freſh waters; nor are we certain whether it breeds on our coaſts, as many water birds migrate to Norway, Iceland, Greenland, [] &c. to breed, and this ſpecies is always found common in thoſe northern regions. Pennant ſays in Scotland it is called Mur-buachaill, or Herdſman of the ſea, from its being ſo much in that element.

The female lays two large pale brown or ſtone-coloured eggs, in June ^*. The ſkins are tanned by ſome northern nations with the down upon them, and are made into caps and other garments.

Many authors have ſuppoſed the Ring-tail to be the female of the Hen-harrier, but Mr. Pennant does not ſubſcribe to this general opinion; he obſerves of the Ring-tail, "from ſome late obſerva⯑tions by the infallible rule of diſſection, males have been found of this ſpecies." And Mr. Latham, after noticing the opinion of Pennant, ſays, "To this I may add my own obſervations; the Bird I now poſſeſs, as an Engliſh ſpecimen, being ſet down in my notes as a male."

The Hen-harrier is very deſtructive to the young poultry, ſkims the ground when it flies, and does not perch on trees. Length ſeventeen inches, breadth three feet three inches, weight twelve ounces.

This is a common Bird in moſt parts of Europe. In England it is ſeen in the North only in the ſummer; but in the South it con⯑tinues the whole year. It is frequently ſeen on the heaths with the Stone-chatter; but is not ſo common as that Bird. It builds its neſt among the furze: its food is chiefly inſects.

The colours of the female are not ſo beautiful as in the male. The white on the wing is leſs conſpicuous, the breaſt is of a plain colour, and inſtead of the white and black ſtreaks on the cheeks, it has only one broad ſtreak of dull brown. Length about ſix inches.

The length of this bird is eleven inches; the breadth ſeventeen. The creſcent of white on the breaſt is more obſcure in the female than in the male; in the former it is ſometimes wholly wanting, and hence ſome writers on birds have made the male and female two diſtinct ſpecies^*. Mr. Latham mentions ſeveral varieties, one quite white; a ſecond ſpotted with white; and a third, which is bigger than the common one, ſpotted with white, and without any creſcent on the breaſt.

This appears to be a migratory ſpecies in moſt parts of Europe. It is met with in Burgundy in France, about the beginning of October, but ſtays there only two or three weeks; it returns there again in April or May for a ſhort time only; it is found as high as Lapmark, but not in Ruſſia or Siberia ^†; it is alſo found in Africa and Aſia ac⯑cording to Adanſon, and other authors.

It breeds in the North of Wales, in Cumberland and Scotland; but is very rarely ſeen in the Southern parts of this country, except during its migrations, at which time it flies in ſmall flocks of five or ſix. Mr. Pennant ſays they are known to breed in Dartmoor, in Devonſhire, in banks on the ſides of ſtreams, and that they are very clamorous when diſturbed; he further adds, thoſe that breed in Wales and Scotland never quit thoſe countries; in the laſt they breed in the hills, but deſcend to the lower parts to feed on the berries of the Mountain Aſh.

The Oyſter-catcher is very common on ſome of our ſhores. It feeds on marine inſects and ſhell-fiſh; chiefly on oyſters and limpets. When it finds an oyſter that gapes wide enough for the inſertion of t's bill, it thruſts it in and eats the fiſh; it's bill is well con⯑ſtructed for this purpoſe, it is flattened on the ſides, for more than half it's length, and by forcing it into the ſhell ſideways, it anſwers the ſame purpoſe as a knife for opening it. In the winter theſe birds are ſeen in conſiderable flocks, in ſummer only in pairs; at this time they live in the neighbourhood of the ſea and ſalt rivers. The female lays four or five eggs on the bare ground, above high water mark; they are of a whitiſh brown hue, thinly ſpotted and ſtriped with black, according to Pennant; Latham ſays they are of a greeniſh grey blotched with black.

It is mentioned by many authors and navigators as an inhabitant of very diſtant countries. It is common from New York to the Bahama Iſlands ^*; found alſo in New Holland ^†, New Zealand ^‡, Ja⯑pan ^§, &c.

The female of this ſpecies differs ſo much from the male, that though a figure of the laſt has been given in a plate of this work, it cannot be amiſs to give a figure of the female at this time. The female exceeds the male in length, but conſiderably more in bulk, weighing eleven ounces, the male only ſix ounces and a half. They are both very fierce, and beautiful birds, and were formerly uſed in falconry; but as that amuſement is now much diſregarded, they are ſeldom trained for that purpoſe.

Length of this ſpecies eighteen inches; weight twenty-two ounces.

Theſe birds breed in the ledges and cliffs of the moſt ſtupendous and craggy rocks on our coaſts. They appear in the Britiſh ſeas early in February, but do not inhabit their breeding places till May. The female lays only one egg; but that is of an extraordinary ſize compared with the bird, being three inches long: it is of a pale ſea green, irregularly ſpotted with black; ſometimes the ground colour is white. They build no neſt, but lay the egg on the bare rock, ſo cloſe to the verge of the precipice, that if it is the leaſt diſturbed, human ability can rarely place it on its former equilibrium. If the firſt egg is deſtroyed, or taken away, it lays a ſecond, and ſometimes a third, if the ſecond is miſſing.

Theſe eggs are ſo eagerly ſought after by the inhabitants of the ſea coaſt; that they often brave the greateſt dangers to find them; and not unfrequently ſacrifice their lives in the attempt. The uſual method of taking them is for two perſons, having a rope tied round [] the middle of each, to ſtand cloſe to the edge of the precipice, and one to lower the other down gradually, the perſon above holding the rope as faſt as poſſible whilſt the other collects the eggs. It however often happens, in this perilous ſituation, that the weight of the loweſt overbalances the ſtrength of his companion above, and both are forced down the precipice, where they muſt inevitably be daſhed to pieces.

The Razor-bill is found very common in the north of Europe, in Iceland, Greenland, &c. They extend along the White Sea into the Arctic Aſiatic ſhores, and from thence to Kamtſchàtkà and the gulph of Achotka ^*.

Latham mentions, in his Supplement, the following curious par⯑ticular of this ſpecies. "The method this bird takes in fiſhing is rather ſingular, often diving and catching ſeveral ſmall fiſh, which it is obſerved to range on each ſide of the bill, with the head in the mouth, and the tails hanging out on each ſide of the bill; and when the mouth can hold no more, the bird retires to the rocks to ſwallow them at leiſure."

After the account that has been given of this bird, in the deſcrip⯑tion of the male, Mergus Merganſer, plate 49, we can add nothing material concerning it. In the Leverian Muſeum, the Dun-Diver and Gooſander are placed together as male and female. Pennant has deſcribed them as the two ſexes of Mergus Merganſer; and the authority of Linnaeus may alſo be quoted to ſanction this opinion. Yet Latham has endeavoured to prove, by the moſt ſatisfactory experiments, that they are diſtinct ſpecies, and that Mergus Caſtor is only a variety of the Dun-Diver. Thus perplexed between ſuch oppoſite opinions, both of which are advanced by the moſt reſpec⯑table naturaliſts, we can ſcarcely determine to which opinion we ſhould incline; but as the obſervation of Dr. Heyſham ^* moſt evi⯑dently [] tends to confirm the opinion of Mr. Latham, we will not heſitate to conſider them as diſtinct ſpecies, and the Mergus Caſtor only a variety. Our readers muſt, notwithſtanding, ſee the neceſſity of adopting the ſynonyms as for the female of the Gooſander.

Length twenty-three inches and a half.

The length of this ſpecies is eighteen inches ^*. The body is ſmall, but the legs are remarkably long. The male differs very little from the female; and in the eſſential characteriſtic, the bill, they perfectly agree: this part, which is about three inches and a half long, is of a ſubſtance like whale-bone; it is very ſlender, and compreſſed, is flexible, and, unlike the bills of other birds, turns up towards the end, and tapers to a point.

This bird is common in winter on the eaſtern coaſts of this king⯑dom, particularly on thoſe of Suffolk and Norfolk; and ſometimes on the lakes of Shropſhire. They are found in great plenty, in the breeding ſeaſon, in the fens in Foſsdike Waſh in Lincolnſhire, and in the fens of Cambridgeſhire and Suffolk. They feed on worms and inſects, which they ſcoop out of the mud and ſand; and are ſome⯑times obſerved to wade or ſwim, but always cloſe to the ſhores.

[]They lay two eggs, about the ſize of thoſe of a pigeon. Pennant ſays, they are white, tinged with green, and marked with large black ſpots. In the deſcription given by Latham, he obſerves, they are of a cinereous grey, whimſically marked with deep browniſh black patches, of irregular ſizes and ſhapes, beſides ſome under markings of a duſky hue.

The Avoſet is far more frequent in ſome parts of Europe than in England. Albin ſays, in Rome and Venice they are common. Salerne writes, in the breeding time they are ſo plenty on the coaſts of Bas Poictou, that the peaſants take their eggs by thouſands. They are found alſo in Ruſſia and Siberia, Denmark, Sweden, and other northern countries.

It is difficult to deſcribe the diverſified plumage of this beautiful bird. The colours are, throughout, of the plaineſt kinds; but they are ſo exquiſitely ſoftened, neatly ſpeckled, and elegantly interſperſed and varied with ſtreaks and waves of black, that no deſcription can convey a juſt idea of its beautiful appearance.

It has many characters of the Swallow tribe. Klein has placed it in that genus, and diſtinguiſhes it by its undivided tail from the other ſpecies; and Pennant ſays, it may with juſtice be called the Nocturnal Swallow, as it differs from the Swallows chiefly in the time of its flight, the latter being on the wing in the day, and the Goat-Sucker only in the evening. It agrees in ſeveral re⯑ſpects alſo with the Owl tribe. Its manners are much the ſame in moſt countries in Europe: it retires into ſome dark receſs in foreſts, woods, or among rocks, and never ventures out in the day time but in very gloomy weather, or when diſturbed. As it can ſee beſt in the twilight, it comes out in the duſk of the evening and morning, and collects its food; this it does chiefly on the wing when it finds abundance of moths and other inſects ſtirring. In the month of July, it is ſaid to live entirely on the dorr beetle, or cock-chaffer ^*; and from this circumſtance Charlton has called it the Dorr-Hawk.

The notes of this bird are of two kinds: "the loudeſt," ſays Pennant, "ſo much reſembles that of a large ſpinning-wheel, that the Welch call this bird aderyny droell, or the Wheel Bird." And he farther adds, "it begins its ſong moſt punctually on the cloſe of [] day, ſitting uſually on a bare bough, with its head lower than the tail, the lower jaw quivering with the efforts. The noiſe is ſo very violent, as to give a ſenſible vibration to any little building it chances to alight on, and emit this ſpecies of note. The other is a ſharp ſqueak, which it repeats often: this ſeems to be a note of love, as it is obſerved to reiterate it when in purſuit of the female among the trees."

The male is diſtinguiſhed from the female by a large oval white ſpot, ſituated on the inner web of the firſt three quill feathers, and another at the ends of the two exterior feathers of the tail.

The bill is alike in both male and female: it is ſhort, but the gape is remarkably wide. It is, probably, from the ſtructure of the mouth that the ancients ſuppoſed this bird ſucked the teats of goats. In the days of Ariſtotle, this ridiculous notion was generally preva⯑lent; but among modern naturaliſts, none except Scopoli ſeems in⯑clined to credit ſuch an opinion.

The female makes no neſt, but lays her eggs on the bare ground. They are uſually two in number, of a whitiſh hue, and marbled with brown.

This is a very confined genus. Latham enumerates, including his ſupplementary volume, but ſeventeen ſpecies, and of theſe we find only our preſent ſubject, mentioned as a native of Europe. It appears to be an inhabitant of every country on the continent, but is very ſparingly diffuſed in ſome parts, and no where common: it is alſo ſaid to inhabit Africa and Aſia. Sonnerat met with one on the coaſt of Coromandel. With us it is a bird of paſſage, and arrives about the latter end of May. It entirely diſappears in the northern [] parts of the kingdom in Auguſt, but does not quit the ſouthern parts till September.

The ſize of this ſpecies is ten inches and a half, breadth twenty two inches and a half, weight two ounces and three quarters.

This is the largeſt bird of the genus that inhabits Great Britain; its length is twenty-three inches, weight two pounds and a half. [] The extraordinary length of the neck, and remarkable ſtructure of the feet, give it a moſt aukward, yet ſingular appearance. The breaſt and belly is of a very beautiful ſilvery white, intermixed with ſhades of pale ferruginous colour, and has a gloſs like ſattin; theſe ſkins are in much requeſt, and like thoſe of the Grebe of Geneva are made into muffs, tippets, &c. In February the ſkins loſe the bright co⯑lour, and in the breeding time the breaſt is almoſt bare.

Mr. Latham gives a minute account of the plumage of this ſpecies in ſeveral ſtages of life; he ſays, "At firſt they are perfectly downy and ſtriped, eſpecially down the neck, with black: after this, when about half grown, the ſtripes on the neck are leſs diſtinct, being rather mottled than ſtriped, and the under parts, though white, is clouded with duſky; at this period a fullneſs round the head is ob⯑ſerved: as the bird advances ſtill further towards perfection, the brown and white appears clear and diſtinct, the head becomes much tufted, and the horns are a little elongated. But we have great reaſon to believe that the bird does not obtain the full and perfect creſt till the ſecond year at leaſt."

This ſpecies is common in ſome parts of this country. They breed in the meres of Shropſhire and Cheſhire, and in the eaſt fen of Lin⯑colnſhire ^*. The female lays four white eggs, the ſize of thoſe of a pigeon; the neſt in which they are depoſited, like others of the Grebe kind, are compoſed of different kinds of water plants, ſuch as the ſtalks of the Water Lily, Pond Weed, &c. careleſsly put to⯑gether, and left floating on the water, among the flags and ruſhes. The old bird feeds on ſmall fiſh; when the young brood is hatched, [] they are fed upon ſmall eels. This bird is rarely ſeen on the land, and though common, it is very difficult to be ſhot, as it darts into the water on the leaſt appearance of danger, and ſeldom flies farther than the end of the lake it frequents ^*.

This is a very common ſpecies in this country, as well as in many other parts of Europe: it is alſo ſaid to inhabit the moſt remote parts of Africa.

It frequents gardens, and does much injury to fruit trees in the ſpring, by tearing off the young ſhoots; but, it is alſo very beneficial, in deſtroying the inſects that infeſt thoſe trees. In confinement it prefers hemp ſeed to all others.

In its manner it very much reſembles a Wood-pecker, it is con⯑tinually running up and down the bodies of trees in queſt of inſects, and ſuch as are concealed under the bark, it diſcovers by ſounding with its bill. It is very alert and almoſt always ſeen hanging by its legs, or running in a ſuſpended poſture. It is alſo very courageous, and will attack birds that are far more powerful than itſelf.

[]In the breeding-time it lives chiefly in the woods, and builds in hollow trees. The female lays from eight to twelve eggs; they are white, ſpotted with ruſt colour.

The length of this bird is five inches and three quarters, weight almoſt an ounce.

The length of this Bird is twenty-three inches; breadth five feet four inches. It is a very powerful creature, and is armed with long, hooked claws, and a remarkably ſtrong bill; in the ſtructure of it's feet it differs from all other birds of prey; the outer toe turns backwards, and the claw belonging to it is larger than that of the inner toe.

It frequents the ſea-ſhores, rivers and lakes. Some authors ſay it feeds on water-fowl, but its chief food is fiſh; and theſe it does not take by ſwimming, but hovering in the air, with its eye directed into the water, it ſoon diſcovers it's prey, when precipitating like light⯑ning upon it, it brings the fiſh up in its talons, and retires to a diſ⯑tance to devour it. The Italians call it the Leaden Eagle, becauſe it deſcends with ſo much violence on its prey: and Latham has adopted with an (?) among his ſynonyms the account of Kolben, of a bird he ſuppoſes the Oſprey. Kolben obſerves, "That it is of all birds the moſt deſtructive to the Flying-fiſh, taking them during their riſe from the water."

[]Pennant ſays it builds it's neſt on the ground among reeds, and lays three or four white eggs of an elliptical form; rather leſs than thoſe of a hen.

Ancient writers have aſſerted that the left foot is ſubpalmated; many reſpectable Naturaliſts of late years have followed this opi⯑nion, and indeed the authority of Linneus had almoſt finally ſanc⯑tioned this error. Pennant contradicts this opinion, and gives a faithful deſcription of the bird, and Latham has added a very cu⯑rious and intereſting note to his account of it ^*, which is cer⯑tainly an apology in ſome meaſure for the miſtake in the firſt inſtance; ſince a bird perfectly according with the deſcription given by early writers may have occurred. We cannot ſuppoſe, without ſome good authority in ancient writers, Linneus would have adopted their errors.

This is a very elegant Bird: length two feet, weight two pounds two ounces. The female differs very little from the male, except that her colours are not ſo bright. It is found in vaſt quantities on ſeveral of our ſea-coaſts, and particularly about the rivers and lakes in Lancaſhire and Eſſex, where it finds abundance of ſmall fiſh, marine inſects, &c. It breeds in holes that it digs in the earth, or in the deſerted burrows of rabbits. The female lays from twelve to ſixteen eggs, of a roundiſh form and white colour. Theſe are depoſited at the fartheſt end of the hole, and are carefully covered with fine down, which the female ſupplies from her breaſt. The old Bird is very careful of her little brood, and uſes many cunning ſtra⯑tagems to draw the attention of any diſturber from her young: it is even ſaid that if ſhe cannot favor their eſcape from danger by that means, ſhe will carry them away in her bill, or on her back. The time of ſitting on the eggs is about thirty days.

Some have attempted to domeſticate them by bringing them up under the common Duck; but they do not thrive ſo well as when [] they are wild, nor will any ſuch attempt be likely to ſuccecd, unleſs it be made in the neighbourhood of the ſea. The fleſh is very rank, but their eggs are much eſteemed.

This ſpecies remains with us all the year: in winter it col⯑lects in large flocks; leaves the Orknies in that ſeaſon, and returns there again in the ſpring. It is alſo found very far to the North: in Aſia about the Caſpian Sea ^*, and the ſalt lakes of the Tartarian and Siberian Deſarts ^†, Kamſchatka ^‡ and the Falkland Iſles ^‖.

The length of this Bird is ſeventeen inches; breadth twenty-nine; weight fourteen ounces and a half. It is much leſs frequent in this country than the Curlew, to which it bears a great reſem⯑blance in appearance, though not in ſize; the latter being uſually from twenty to twenty-five inches in length. In its manners it is alſo much like the Curlew.

It is met with in flocks from April to May on its paſſage to the North, where it is ſuppoſed they breed. Mr. Pennant ſays he re⯑ceived one from Invercauld, ſhot on the Grampian Hills. This ſpe⯑cies ſeems to vary in a great degree: the Bird deſcribed by Mr. Latham does not accord in ſeveral reſpects with that given by Mr. Pennant. A ſpecimen of this has been received from Sweden: Mr. Latham ſays it is alſo found in America.