[] EXPLANATION.
PLATE I. FALCON GENTIL.
- Falco gentilis. F. cera pedibuſque flavis corpore ci⯑nereo, maculis fuſcis, cauda faſciis quatuor nigri⯑cantibus. Lin. ſyſt. 126.
- Falk. Faun. ſuec. No. 58. Kram. auſtr. 328.
- Falco gentilis. Brunnich. No. 6.
A Species highly eſteemed by Falconers; thoſe of Germany ſearch for them in the Dalecarlian Alps, thoſe of Denmark in Jutland and Norway, and thoſe of our coun⯑trymen, who ſtill purſue the diverſion, find them in the N. of Scotland *.
Cere and legs yellow; irides pale yellow; pupil large and of a full black. Head light ruſt color, with oblong black ſpots; whole under ſide from chin to tail white, tinged with yellow; each feather marked with heart-ſhaped duſky ſpots, pointing [8]downwards. The back brown; quill fea⯑thers duſky, barred on the outward web with black, on the lower part of the inner web with white. Coverts of the wings and ſcapulars brown, edged with ruſt color; wings reach only one half of the length of the tail. The tail barred with four or five broad bands of black, and the ſame of cine⯑reous, the edges of the firſt bounded by nar⯑row lines of dull white. The tips of the feathers white.
II.
PLATE II. Is a variety, a young bird not arrived at its full plumage, with tranſverſe bars of brown on the breaſt inſtead of cor⯑dated ſpots.
III. SPOTTED FALCON.
TWO of theſe were killed in different years, near Longnor, in Shropſhire.
Size of a buzzard: bill black: cere and legs yellow: irides pale yellow: crown of the head, and hind part of the neck, white: ſpotted with light reddiſh brown: back, and ſcapulars of the ſame color, edged with white: quill feathers duſky, barred with aſh color: under ſide of the neck, breaſt, []
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[9]belly, and thighs, white: the firſt of theſe, likewiſe the beginning of the breaſt, marked with a few ruſty ſpots: rump white: mid⯑dle feathers of the tail barred with deep brown and white; the reſt with a lighter and deeper brown: the legs ſtrong.
IV. LANNER.
The Lanner. Br. Zool. I. 138. ſp. ix.
V. MOOR BUZZARD.
Moor Buzzard. Br. Zool. I. 146. ſp. xiv.
THIS exhibits a ſingular variety, with a yellowiſh white head and chin; and the hind and lower part of the neck, and the coverts of the wings blotched with the ſame color. Iſle of Man.
VI. EAGLE OWL.
[10]- Bubo maximus nigri et fuſci coloris. Sib. Scot. 14.
- Great horn, or eagle owl. Wil. orn. 99. Raii ſyn. av.
- Strix bubo. Lin. ſyſt. 131.
- Uff. Faun. ſuec. No. 69.
- Berg-uggle, Katugl-hane. Strom. Hiſt. Sondmore, 222.
- Buhu. Kram. Auſtr. 323.
- Le grand Duc. Briſſon av. I. 477.
SIR Robert Sibbald ſays it is found in the Orknies: it has been once ſhot in York⯑ſhire; another time in the county of Fife. It inhabits inacceſſible rocks and deſert places; and preys on hares, and game of all kinds. Its appearance in cities was deemed by the Romans an unlucky omen; Rome * itſelf once underwent a luſtration, becauſe one of them ſtrayed into the Capitol. The antients had them in the utmoſt abhorrence, and thought them, like the ſcreech owl of the moderns, the meſſengers of death.
In ſize it is almoſt equal to the eagle: the irides bright yellow: the head, and whole []
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[11]body, finely varied with lines, ſpots, and ſpecks of black, brown, aſh color, and fer⯑ruginous: the wings long: the tail ſhort, marked with duſky bars: the legs thick, covered to the very end of the toes with a cloſe and full down, of a pale yellowiſh brown: the claws great, much hooked, and duſky.
VII. GREAT BUTCHER BIRD.
Br. Zool. I. 161. ſp. 1. the female.
DISTINGUISHED from the male by ſemicircular brown lines acroſs the breaſt. It breeds in the North of England; makes its neſt of heath, and moſs, lines it with wool and goſſamer; and lays ſix eggs, of a dull olive green, ſpotted in the thickeſt part with black. It is ſaid to kill the young of ſmall birds in their neſts.
VIII.
TURTLE.
Br. Zool. . 222. ſp. 3.
ENGRAVEN to give a better figure than that in the folio edition, which was taken from a young bird.
ROCK PIGEON.
[12]Br. Zool. I. 217. in the note.
IX.
SWALLOW.
Br. Zool. II. 242. ſp. I. App. 502.
TO ſtrengthen the two opinions in re⯑gard to the diſappearance of theſe birds, a few other evidences in ſupport of each are added to thoſe before given.
This rendezvous of ſwallows about the ſame time of year is very common on the willows, in the little iſles in the Thames. They ſeem to aſſemble for the ſame purpoſe as thoſe in Hampſhire, notwithſtanding no one has yet been witneſs of their departure. On the 26th of September laſt, two gentle⯑men who happened to lie at Maidenhead⯑bridge, furniſhed at leſt a proof of the mul⯑titudes there aſſembled; they went by torch⯑light to an adjacent iſle, and in leſs than half an hour brought aſhore 50 dozen, for they had nothing more to do than to draw the willow twigs thro' their hands, the birds never ſtirring till they were taken.
The northern naturaliſts will perhaps ſay, that this aſſembly met for the purpoſe of plunging into their ſubaqueous winter quar⯑ters; but was that the caſe, they would never eſcape diſcovery in a river ſo perpetu⯑ally fiſhed as the Thames, ſome of them muſt [14]inevitably be brought up in the nets that haraſs that water.
Other witneſſes crowd on us to prove the reſidence of thoſe birds in a torpid ſtate du⯑ring the ſevere ſeaſon: Firſt, In the chalky cliffs of Suſſex; as was ſeen on the fall of a great fragment ſome winters ago.
Secondly, In a decayed hollow tree that was cut down, near Dolgelli, in Merioneth⯑ſhire.
Thirdly, In a cliff near Whitby, Yorkſhire, where, on digging out a fox, whole buſhels of ſwallows were found in a torpid condi⯑tion.
Theſe are doubtleſs the lurking places of the latter habitations of thoſe young birds, who are incapable of diſtant migra⯑tions. There they continue inſenſible and rigid; but like flies may ſometimes be re⯑animated by an unſeaſonable hot day in the midſt of winter, for very near Chriſtmas a few appeared on the moulding of a window of Merton College, Oxford, in a remarkable warm nook, which prematurely ſet their blood in motion; having the ſame effect as laying them before the fire at the ſame time of year.
SWIFT.
[15]Br. Zool. I. 245. ſp. iv.
THE fabulous hiſtory of the Manuco⯑diata, or bird of Paradiſe, is here in a great meaſure verified. It was believed to have no feet, to live upon coeleſtial dew, to float perpetually on the Indian air, and to perform all its functions in that element.
The Swift actually performs what has been in theſe enlightened times diſproved of the former, except the ſmall time it takes for ſleeping, and what it devotes to incu⯑bation; every other action is done on wing. The materials of its neſt it collects either as they are carried about by the winds, or picks them from the ſurface in its ſweeping flight. Its food is undeniably the inſect tribe: its drink the dew: even its amorous rites are performed on high. Few perſons who have attended to them in a fine ſum⯑mer's morning, but muſt have ſeen them making their aerial courſes at a vaſt height, encircling a certain ſpace with an eaſy ſteady motion. On a ſudden they fall into each others embraces, then drop precipitate with a loud ſhriek for numbers of yards. This is the critical conjuncture, and no more to [16]be wondered at than that inſects (a familiar inſtance) ſhould diſcharge the ſame duty in the ſame element.
X.
SEDGE BIRD.
- Leſſer reed ſparrow. Wil. orn. 144.
- Paſſer arundinaceus minor. Raii ſyn. av. 47.
- Motacilla ſalicaria. Lin. ſyſt. 330. Faun. ſuec. No. 249.
- La Fauvette babillarde. Briſſon av. III. 384.
FREQUENTS the fens of Lincolnſhire, but not peculiar to that part of the kingdom. It ſits on low buſhes, on reeds or ſedges, and has a moſt haſty jarring note.
It is a ſmall ſlender ſhaped bird: its bill black: over each eye a white line: the crown of the head, hind part of the neck, and upper part of the back, cinereous, marked with duſky ſpots: the lower part of the back and rump, tawny; coverts of the wings, and quill feathers, duſky; the firſt edged with pale brown: the tail deep brown: the feet, as Mr. Ray well obſerves, remarkably large for the ſize of the bird.
TREE SPARROW.
[17]Mountain Sparrow. Br. Zool. II. 308. ſp. iv.
COMMON near Lincoln, Spalding, &c. is converſant among trees, but does not frequent houſes. It is leſs than the com⯑mon ſparrow: the bill thick and black: the crown of the head, hind part of the neck, and leſſer coverts of the wings, bright bay; the firſt plain; the two laſt ſpotted with black; juſt above the greater coverts is a row of feathers, black, tipt with white; the greater coverts black, edged with ruſt color: quill feathers duſky, edged with pale red: lower part of the back olive brown: tail brown: legs ſtraw color.
Behind each ear is a large black ſpot; on the chin another: cheeks and whole under ſide of the body whitiſh.
XI.
SNOW FLAKE *.
Greater Brambling. Br. Zool. II. 321. ſp. iv.
THESE birds appear in hard weather on the Cheviot hills, and in the High⯑lands of Scotland, in amazing flocks: a few [18]breed on the ſummits of the higheſt moun⯑tains, in the ſame places with the Ptarmigans, but the greateſt numbers migrate from the north: they appear firſt * in the Orkney iſles, and multitudes of them often fall, wearied with their flight, on veſſels in the Pentland Firth. Their appearance is a certain fore⯑runner of hard weather, and ſtorms of ſnow, being driven by the cold from their ſummer retreats, Spitzbergen, Greenland, Hudſon's bay, and the Lapland alps, into leſs rigorous climates: they viſit at that ſeaſon all parts of the northern hemiſphere, Sweden, Pruſſia, Auſtria, Siberia **: they arrive lean and re⯑turn fat: in their flights keep very cloſe to each other, mingle moſt confuſedly toge⯑ther: and fling themſelves collectively into the form of a ball, at which inſtant the fowler makes great havock among them.
I had opportunity of examining ſeveral in North Britain; ſome were of the colors of that deſcribed p. 121, others were black and white, vide p. 322, paragraph 2. I am not certain, but ſuſpect the former to be young; [19]but poſſibly they may vary according to the ſeaſon, as is common with arctic birds.
The weight of one I call an old bird, was 1 oz. one-fourth: the bill and legs black: the forehead and crown white: hind part of the head black; and ſome mixture of black on the hind part of the neck; the reſt of the neck, and whole under ſide of the body white: the back of a full black: the rump marked with a white ſpot: the baſtard wing, and the ends of the greater coverts black; the others white: the baſe of the quill feathers white; the remaining part black: the ſe⯑condaries white, with a black ſpot on their exterior web: the middle feathers of the tail black; the three outmoſt white, with a duſky ſpot near their ends *.
YELLOW HAMMER.
[20]Br. Zool. II. 319. ſp. ii.
XII.
WOODPECKER.
Picus major. P. albo nigroque varius, criſſo pileoque rubris. Lin. ſyſt. 176. Faun. ſuec. No. 101.
A Bird that ſeems only a variety of my greater ſpotted woodpecker.
LITTLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.
Br. Zool. I. 180. ſp. iii. the female,
DIFFERS from the male, in wanting the crimſon mark on the head: the vent feathers in both ſexes are of a dirty light yellowiſh brown.
XIII.
[21]GROUS.
Br. Zool. I. 204. ſp. iii. the female.
PTARMIGAN.
Br. Zool. I. 206. ſp. iv.
ONE that I weighed laſt ſummer, in the county of Breadalbane, was nineteen ounces *. They inhabit the very ſummits of the higheſt of the Highland mountains, amidſt the rocks, perching on the grey ſtones, the general color of the ſtrata in thoſe lofty ſituations: they ſeldom take long flights, but fly about like pigeons; are very ſilly birds, and ſo tame as to ſuffer a ſtone to be flung at them without riſing. It is ſcarce neceſſary to have a dog to find them. They taſte ſo like a grous as to be ſcarce diſtin⯑guiſhable. They are found from Breadalbane. in the county of Perth, to the vaſt naked hill of Scaraben, in the county of Caithneſs.
XIV.
WOODCOCK.
Br. Zool. II. 348.
RED SHANK.
[22]Br. Zool. II. 368. ſp. vi.
XV. RUFF AND REEVE.
Br. Zool. II. 363. ſp. iii.
RUFFS loſe their long feathers in moult⯑ing ſeaſon, nor do they recover them till ſpring. At the ſame time the pimples break out about the bill; and the older the birds the larger and more numerous are theſe marks, and the longer the neck fea⯑thers.
Soon after their arrival in the fens in ſpring, they begin to hill, i. e. to collect on ſome dry bank near a flaſh of water, in ex⯑pectation of the Reeves, which reſort to them; each male keeps poſſeſſion of a ſmall piece of ground, which he continues run⯑ning round till he has formed a naked circle on the ſpot. If a female lights the Ruffs immediately fall to fighting.
There is a great difference between the weight of a Ruff and Reeve, the firſt be⯑ing 7 oz. ½ the laſt only 4 oz. Beſides the fens they viſit annually a place called Mar⯑tin Moor in Lancaſhire, the latter end of March, or beginning of April, but continue there ſcarce three weeks.
XVI.
PURRE.
Br. Zool. II. 374. ſp. xiii.
SANDPIPER.
Br. Zool. II. 373. ſp. xi.
XVII.
[24]GREBE.
Br. Zool. II. 395. ſp. ii.
LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE GREBE.
Br. Zool. II. 397. ſp. iv.
XVIII. GREAT AUK.
Br. Zool. II. 401. ſp. i.
XIX.
COMMON AUK.
Br. Zool. II. 403. ſp. ii.
LITTLE AUK.
Br. Zool. II. 409. ſp. iv.
THE variety mentioned by Mr. Ed⯑wards, I met with it in the cabinet of Doctor David Skene, at Aberdeen, ſhot on the coaſt about twenty miles north of that city, in the ſpring of the year.
XX.
[25]SPOTTED GUILLE⯑MOT.
Br. Zool. II. 412. ſp. viii.
A Variety of the ſame ſpecies with the black guillemot, ſhot on the ſame coaſt as the former.
LESSER GUILLE⯑MOT.
Br. Zool. II. 411. ſp. vii.
XXI. LUMME.
Br. Zool. II. 415. ſp. iii.
LINNAEUS obſerves very juſtly, that they are monogamous, and that their cry forebodes a tempeſt. I ſaw a pair on the coaſt of Caithneſs, flying wildly high in the air, with a horrible croaking.
XXII. ARCTIC GULLS.
Strundt-jager, i. e. Coprotheres. Raii ſyn. av. 127. Br. Zool. II. 420. ſp. iv.
THE Faſkidar of Martin, hiſt. weſt. iſles, p. 73. and the dirty aulin of the Firth of Forth, from its filthy manner of life.
XXIII.
[26]KITTIWAKE.
- Larus albus major Belon? Raii ſyn. av. 129.
- Larus Riſſa. Lin. ſyſt. 224.
- Iſlandis Ritſa, incolis Chriſtianſoe, Lille Solvet, Rot⯑teren.
- Brunnich, No. 140.
- La petite mouette cendrèe. Briſſon, av. vi. 178. tab. xvii.
INhabits the romantic cliffs of Flamborough head; *; the Baſs iſle, and the vaſt rocks near the caſtle of Slains, in the county of Aberdeen, the elegant and hoſpitable ſeat of the Earl of Errol, placed like a falcon's neſt on the edge of a precipice waſhed by a wild ocean. Theſe and various other ſorts of gulls ſcream perpetually over the head, while the waves roar beneath.
The young of theſe birds are a favorite diſh in North Britain, being ſerved up roaſt⯑ed, a little before dinner, in order to pro⯑voke an appetite, but from their rank taſte and ſmell, ſeem much more likely to pro⯑duce a contrary effect. Theſe proved to be the Corniſh Tarrock, Br. Zool. II. 425, or the Kittiwake, before its firſt moulting.
GULL.
Br. Zool. II. 424. ſp. viii.
HAS a great reſemblance to the former, in reſpect to colors; but ſometimes the head and hind part of the neck is marked with pale brown ſpots, as Mr. Ray deſcribes it.
XXIV. WILD DUCKS.
Br. Zool. II. 462. ſp. xiii.
XXV. SHAG.
Br. Zool. II. 478. ſp. ii.
ARE found in ſmall flocks of five or ſix, on Flamborough Head, and on other rocks on the coaſt of Britain; but this va⯑riety with a creſt is very rare.
XXVI. SMOOTH HOUND.
[28]Br. Zool. III. 91. ſp. x.
XXVII-VIII. THORNBACK.
Br. Zool. III. 69. ſp. v.
XXIX.
LUMP FISH.
Br. Zool. III. 103. ſp. i.
FIG. I. ſhews it on its back, in order to give a view of the part by which it adheres ſo ſtrongly to the rocks. Theſe fiſh are found in vaſt numbers during ſpring on the coaſt of Sutherland, near the Ord of Caithneſs, a vaſt promontory, with a road over it much more tremendous than our Penmaenmawr. The ſeals which abound beneath, feed great⯑ly on theſe fiſh, leaving the ſkins, numbers thus emptied floating at that ſeaſon aſhore. Erratum, p. 104. lower lege upper.
SEA SNAIL.
Br. Zool. III. 105. ſp. ii.
FIG. II. The adhering part. Theſe fiſh are full of ſpawn in January, and their bellies at that time vaſtly prominent.
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XXX. DRAGONRT.
[29]Br. Zool. III. 130. ſp. i.
IS taken by bait in 30 or 38 fathom water; and is very often found in the ſtomach of cod fiſh.
XXXI.
LESSER DRAGONET.
Br. Zool. III. 133. ſp. ii.
WEEVER.
Br. Zool. III. 134. ſp. i.
XXXII.
LESSER HAKE.
Br. Zool. III. 158. ſp. xi.
COAL FISH.
Br. Zool. III. 152. ſp. vii.
TWO Specimens of the ſame ſize, and caught at the ſame time, proved the fallibility of the characters of ſpecies, taken from the number of rays, for in the two were theſe differences in the ſeveral fins:
- P. Dors. 14 17 21. Pect. 20. Vent. 6. An. 22 22.
- P. Dors. 13 19 21. Pect. 19. Vent. 6. An. 25 20.
The ſame variation is ſometimes obſerved [30]in the rays of other fiſh; and in the ſquamae and ſcuta of ſerpents.
XXXIII.
WHISTLE FISH.
Br. Zool. III. 164. ſp. xv.
BROWN WHISTLE FISH.
Br. Zool. III. 165. ſp. xvi.
XXXIV. BLENNY.
Br. Zool. III. 169. ſp. iii.
XXXV. FATHER LASHER.
Br. Zool. III. 179. ſp. iii.
XXXVI. WRASSE.
Br. Zool. III. 207. ſp. iv.
XXXVII.
WRASSE.
Br. Zool. III. 208. ſp. v.
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WRASSE.
[31]Br. Zool. III. 206. ſp. iii.
XXXVIII. GURNARD.
Br. Zool. III. 231. ſp. i.
IS fond of ſporting near the top of the water. Is ſometimes taken above two feet and a half long.
XXXIX. TUB-FISH.
Br. Zool. III. 235. ſp. iv.
XL.
TROUT.
Br. Zool. III. 250. ſp. iv.
SAMLET.
Br. Zool. III. 253. ſp. v.
XLI.
[32]RUD.
- Br. Zool. III. 310. ſp. vi.
- Rothauge. Meyer An. II. tab. 53.
- Scarf? Faun. ſuec. No. 366.
FREQUENT opportunity has occurred ſince the publication of the hiſtory of the Britiſh fiſh, of examining this more at⯑tentively. It is found in the river Charwell, near Oxford; in Holderneſs; and in the Wi⯑tham in Lincolnſhire. Our former deſcrip⯑tion is in part erroneous, being confounded with the next ſpecies: the rays of the fins of this were, P. D. 11. P. 17. V. 9. A. 13. Linnaeus makes the Orf, figured by Meyer, II. 94. a ſynonym of our fiſh; but the laſt gives the print of one widely differing from the Rud, which in form has much reſem⯑blance to the roach: the Orf is leſs deep, and comes nearer the ſhape of the dace.
CRUSIAN.
- Karaſs. Geſner piſc. Paralip. 16.
- Karauſchen. Meyer An. II. 54.
- Ruda? Faun. ſuec. No. 364.
IS a deeper and thicker fiſh than the laſt, and of a deeper yellow color: the dorſal fin extended further along the back, and []
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[33]conſiſted of eighteen or twenty rays; the two firſt ſtrong and ſerrated.
This ſpecies is not uncommon in the ponds near London; whether it is native, or brought out of Germany originally, as many ſuppoſe, is unknown to me.
XLII.
STICKLEBACK.
Fifteen ſpined, S. back. Br. Zool. III. 120. ſp. iii.
STICKLEBACK.
Br. Zool. III. 217. ſp. i.
STICKLEBACK.
Br. Zool. III. 219. ſp. ii.
XLIII. TUNNY.
Br. Zool. III. 223. ſp. ii.
THE magnificent environs of Inveraray receive no ſmall improvement from the buſy ſcene during the herring-fiſhery on Lough Fine, an arm of the ſea, which from its narrowneſs, and the winding of its ſhore, has all the beauties of a freſh water lake. [34]Every evening ſeveral hundreds of boats in a manner cover the ſurface: on the week days the chearful noiſe of the bagpipe and dance ecchoes from on board: on the ſab⯑bath each boat approaches the land, and pſalmody and devotion divide the day; for the common people of the north are diſpoſed to be religious, having the example before them of a gentry untainted by luxury and diſſipation, and being inſtructed by a clergy who are active in their duty, and who pre⯑ſerve reſpect amidſt all the diſadvantages of a narrow income.
Each morning the capture of the night is brought on ſhore: the herring is too com⯑mon a fiſh to attract the attention of a ſtranger, but the ſize and form of the tunny is what immediately catches his eye.
This fiſh is the follower of the herring, on which it preys, and often, during night, ſtrikes into the nets and does conſiderable damage. When the fiſhermen draw them up in the morning, the tunny riſes at the ſame time towards the ſurface, ready to catch any fiſh that drop out; a ſtrong hook, bait⯑ed with a herring, and fixed to a rope, is immediately flung out, and the tunny ſeldom fails taking it; but as ſoon as hooked loſes all ſpirit, and after very little reſiſtance, ſub⯑mits to its fate.
[35]They do not come in ſhoals like the tun⯑nies of the Mediterranean, for not above two or three are taken in a night, which are dragged on ſhore and cut up, either to be ſold freſh to the people who carry them to the country markets, or elſe are ſalted in large caſks.
The fleſh when freſh cut looks exactly like raw beef; but when boiled looks very pale, and has ſomething of the flavor of ſalmon.
One that I ſaw * was 7 feet 10 inches long, the greateſt circumference 5-7; the leſt near the tail 1-6; the diſtance between one point of the tail, and the other, 2-7: The firſt dorſal fin conſiſted of thirteen ſtrong ſpines, which when depreſſed, were ſo concealed in a deep ſlit in the back, as to be quite invi⯑ſible till very cloſely inſpected: it had ſix branchioſtegous rays; above were eleven; beneath, ten ſpurious fins of a fine yellow color: eyes large: irides pale green: the ſkin on the back ſmooth, black, and thick: on the belly the ſcales were viſible, ſtrong, compact, and white.
This fiſh was cut up without being weigh⯑ed; but another taken the ſame day, (which I did not ſee) and weighed for my informa⯑tion, was 460 lb.
They are known on this coaſt by the name [36]of Mackrel Sture, mackrel, from ſome re⯑ſemblance they have to that fiſh, Sture from the Daniſh, Stor, great.
XLIV.
FLYING FISH.
Br. Zool. III. 282. ſp. i.
THE upper figure repreſents it in front; the lower ſideways. It is found in all warm climates; this is the moſt northerly I ever heard of its being ſeen in.
ANCHOVY.
Br. Zool. III. 296. ſp. iv.
TAKEN April 21, 1769, in the Cheſter channel, near my houſe. Length 5 inches: under jaw much ſhorter than the up⯑per: teeth ſmall, a row in each jaw, and another in the middle of the tongue: eyes great: ſcales large, and very deciduous: back green, and ſemipellucid: ſides and belly ſilvery and opake: edge of the belly ſmooth. This is the ſame with the Italian anchovy, having compared it with one which I pro⯑cured laſt ſummer in ſpirits from Leghorn. []
[]
[]
[37]This is no new diſcovery, for Mr. Ray men⯑tions them in a letter to Doctor Liſter, May 7th, 1669 *.
XLV. LIZARD.
Br. Zool. III. 15. ſp. ii.
THE two ſmall ones are Larvae, with their branchial fins, which drop off when they quit the water.
XLVI. SEAL.
Br. Zool. I. 71. ſp. i.
THE lower figure is the common ſpecies; the upper are two white ſeals, taken from a painting in the Muſeum at Oxford, and probably are young ones.
Seals are found in great numbers on the north coaſt of Scotland; and are ſeen float⯑ing amidſt the waves near the foot of the rocks. They prey entirely on fiſh, never [38]moleſting the birds, which ſwim with great compoſure amongſt them: they eat their prey beneath the water, and if they are devour⯑ing any very oily fiſh, the place is known by a certain ſmoothneſs of the waves immedi⯑ately above.
On the coaſt of Caithneſs are immenſe caverns opening into the ſea, and running ſome hundreds of yards beneath the land: theſe are the reſort of ſeals in the breeding time, where they continue till their young are old enough to go to ſea, which is in about ſix or ſeven weeks. The firſt of theſe caves is near the Ord, the laſt near Thrumſter: their entrance is ſo extremely narrow as only to admit a boat; their inſide very ſpatious and lofty. In the month of October, or the beginning of November, the ſeal-hunters enter the mouths of the caverns about mid⯑night, and rowing up as far as they can they land, each of them being provided with a bludgeon, and properly ſtationed, light their torches and make a great noiſe, which brings down the ſeals from the further end in a con⯑fuſed body with frightful ſhrieks and cries; at firſt the men are obliged to give way for fear of being over-born, but when the firſt crowd is paſt, kill as many as ſtraggle behind, (chiefly the young) by ſtriking them on the noſe; a very ſlight blow on that part diſ⯑patches [39]them. When the work is over, they drag the ſeals to the boat, which two men are left to guard. This is a moſt hazardous employ, for ſhould their torches go out, or the wind blow hard from ſea during their continuance in the cave, their lives are loſt. The young ſeals are moſt eſteemed, yielding more oil than their emaciated dams, above eight gallons having been got from a ſingle whelp: the oil ſells from 6 d. to 9 d. per gal⯑lon; the ſkins from 6 d. to 12 d. The growth of the ſeals is very ſudden; the ſeal-hunters ſay that after nine tides from their birth (54 hours) they are as active as their parents: this is certain that a whelp which yields that great quantity of oil is not above five or ſix weeks old.
On this coaſt, and on the rock Hiſkyr, one of the weſtern iſles, is the ſpecies of ſeals (as I conjecture) deſcribed by Doctor Parſons, * and mentioned by M. de Buffon; **; it re⯑ſembles the other in all reſpects but in ſize: a gentleman told me he once killed one near 12 feet long; the common kind ſeldom ex⯑ceeds ceeds ſix feet.
XLVII.
[40]ALPINE HARE.
ON the very top of the higheſt Scotiſh Alps, with the Ptarmigans and Snow⯑flakes, natives of the loftieſt ſituations, is found a ſmall ſpecies of hare, grey in ſum⯑mer, white in winter; which never deſcends to the ſides of the hills, never mixes with the common brown hare, notwithſtanding the laſt abounds in its neighbourhood. It is inferior in ſize to that ſpecies, weighs about 6 lb. ½ has very ſlender legs, and ſhorter ears and tail. It does not run faſt, and when purſued is very apt to take ſhelter under ſtones, and in clifts of rocks. It is very eaſily tamed, and ſoon becomes much more familiar than the common hare; is exceed⯑ingly ſprightly and full of frolick, and ſhews great agility in its boundings round a room: is very fond of honey and carraway comfits, and is commonly obſerved to eat its own dung before a ſtorm. The hair is ſoft and full; the predominant color grey, mixed with a little black and tawny: this is its ſummer's dreſs.
In winter it entirely changes to a ſnowy whiteneſs, except the edges and tips of the []
[41]ears, which retain their blackneſs; the altera⯑tion of color commences in September, and firſt appears about the neck and rump; in April it again reſumes its grey coat. This kind is found on the Alps, in Norway, Swe⯑den, and Ruſſia *, and like this is ſubject to the ſame changes; but in the extreme cold of Greenland never varies from white, the eter⯑nal color of the country.
RABBET.
Br. Zool. I. 90. ſp. ii.
A Gentleman long reſident in the Orkney iſles informed me, that abundance of rabbets were found there, and that their ſkins formed a conſiderable article of trade; but that no hares, foxes, ſnakes or toads were to be ſeen in the country.
XLVIII.
[42]ARGENTINE.
Br. Zool. III. 276.
FROM a drawing of a fiſh of this ſpecies, taken in the ſea near Downing, in April laſt. The figure is as big as life.
ATHERINE.
Br. Zool. III. 277.
THESE are found in high ſeaſon near Southampton, from the latter end of March to the latter end of May, or begin⯑ning of June, in which month they ſpawn: they never entirely deſert the place, and are taken in every month, except when there is a hard froſt.
XLIX.
DOREE.
Br. Zool. III. 181.
SMEAR DAB.
Br. Zool. III. 189.
L. HORSE.
This horſe, by its long reſidence among us, may be ſaid to be naturalized, therefore we hope to be excuſed for introducing it here, notwithſtanding its foreign deſcent. From its great beauty it may be preſumed that it derives its lineage from Monaki Sha⯑duhi, of the pure race of horſes, purer than milk *.
Arabia produces theſe noble animals in the higheſt perfection; firſt, becauſe they take their origin from the wild unmixed breeds that formerly were found in the deſerts **, which had as little degenerated from their primaeval form and powers as the lion, tiger, or any other creature which ſtill remains in a ſtate of nature unchanged by the diſcipline of man, or harveſted proviſion.
[44]The Arabs place their chief delight in this animal; it is to them * as dear as their fa⯑mily, and is indeed part of it: men, women, children, mares, and foals, all lie in one com⯑mon tent, and they lodge promiſcuouſly without fear of injury.
This conſtant intercourſe produces a fami⯑liarity that could not otherwiſe be effected; and creates a tractability in the horſes that could ariſe only from a regular good uſage, little acts of kindneſs, and a ſoothing lan⯑guage, which they are accuſtomed to from their maſters; they are quite unacquainted with the ſpur; the leſt touch of the ſtirrup ſets theſe airy courſers in motion; they ſet off with a fleetneſs that ſurpaſſes that of the ** ofſtrich, yet they are ſo well trained as to [45]ſtop in their moſt rapid ſpeed by the ſlighteſt check of the rider: there are ſometimes inſtances of their being mounted without either bridle or ſaddle, when they ſhew ſuch compliance to their rider's will, as to be di⯑rected in their courſe by the meer motion of a ſwitch *.
Several things concur to maintain this per⯑fection in the horſes of Arabia, ſuch as the great care the Arabs take in preſerving the breed genuine, by permitting none but ſtal⯑lions of the firſt form to have acceſs to the mares: this is never done but in the pre⯑ſence of a witneſs, the ſecretary of the Emir, or ſome publick officer; he aſſerts the fact, records the name of the horſe, mare, and whole pedigree of each, and theſe atteſta⯑tions † are carefully preſerved, for on theſe depends the future price of the foal.
The Arabs, whoſe riches are their horſes, take all imaginable care of them; they have it not in their power to give them graſs in their hot climate, except in the ſpring; their [46]conſtant food is barley, and that given only in the night, being never ſuffered to eat du⯑ring the day.
[47]In the day-time they are kept ſaddled at the door of the tent, ready for any excurſion their maſters may make; the Arabs being fond of the chace, and living by the plun⯑dering of travellers. The horſes are never hurt by any ſervile employ, never injured by heavy burthens, or by long journies, en⯑joy a pure dry air, due exerciſe, great tem⯑perance, and great care.
Every horſe in Arabia (except thoſe which by way of contempt are called Guidich, or pack horſes) has a degree of good qualities ſuperior to thoſe of other places; but it is not to be ſuppoſed but that there are cer⯑tain parts of that country, which have at⯑tained a higher perfection in the art of ma⯑nagement than others.
Thus we find by ſome late information *, that Yemine, in Arabia Felix, is at preſent in great repute for its breed; for the jockies of that part have acquired ſuch a ſuperior name, as to be able to ſell their three year old horſes for two or three hundred guineas a-piece, and when they can be prevailed on to part with a favorite ſtallion, they will not take leſs for it than fifteen hundred gui⯑neas. It is from this country that the great men in India are ſupplied with horſes, for India itſelf is poſſeſſed of a very bad kind. [48]Theſe noble animals being much neglected there, from the conſtant uſe of the Buffalo, not only in tillage, but even in riding.
It may be allowed here to give ſome ac⯑count of the horſes of other countries, which derive their origin, and at leſt receive their improvement from the Arabian kind, for whereſoever the Saracens ſpread their victo⯑rious arms, they, at the ſame time, intro⯑duced their generous race of horſes.
Thoſe of Perſia are light, ſwift, and very like thoſe of Arabia, but formed very nar⯑row before: they are fed with chopped ſtraw, mixed with barley, and inſtead of ſoiling, are fed with new-eared or green bar⯑ley for about fourteen or twenty days *.
Aethiopia has with ſome writers the credit of having originally furniſhed Arabia with its fine race of horſes; but we believe the reverſe, and that they were introduced into that empire by the Arabian princes, whoſe lineage to this day fills that throne. The horſes of that country are ſpirited and ſtrong, and generally of a black color: they are never uſed in long journies, but only in bat⯑tle, or in the race, for all ſervile work is done by mules: the Aethiopians never ſhoe them, for which reaſon, on paſſing thro' ſtony [49]places, they diſmount, and ride on mules, and lead their horſes *; ſo from this we may collect, that this nation is not leſs attached to theſe animals than the Arabs.
Aegypt has two breeds of horſes, one its own, the other Arabian; the laſt are moſt eſteemed, and are bought up at a great price, in order to be ſent to Conſtantinople; but ſuch is the diſcouragement ariſing from the tyranny of the government, that the owners often wilfully lame a promiſing horſe ** leſt the Beys ſhould like it and force it from them.
Barbary owes its fine horſes to the ſame ſtock, which in general are far inferior in point of value; and for the ſame reaſon as is given in the laſt article, the great inſecurity of property under the Turkiſh government. The breed was once very famous: M. D'ar⯑vieux † ſays, that when he was there in 1668, he met with a mare that he thought worthy of the ſtud of his grand Monarque, when in the height of his glory; but Doc⯑tor Shaw informs us, that at preſent the caſe is entirely altered ‡.
[50]Notwithſtanding Spain has been celebra⯑ted of old for the ſwiftneſs of its horſes, yet it muſt have received great improvement from thoſe brought over by their conquerors, the Saracens. According to Oppian *, the Spaniſh breed had no other merit than that of fleetneſs, but at preſent we know that they have ſeveral other fine qualities.
To ſum up the account of this generous animal, we may obſerve, that every country that boaſts of a fine race of horſes, is in⯑debted to Arabia, their primaeval ſeat. No wonder then, that the poetic genius of the author of the book of Job, who not only lived on the very ſpot, but even at a time when the animal creation ſtill enjoyed much of its original perfection, ſhould be able to compoſe that ſublime deſcription which has always been the admiration of every perſon of genuine taſte**.
LI. SEA EAGLE.
[51]Br. Zool. I. 126.
THE largeſt of this ſpecies inhabits Greenland, where they are ſtrong enough to take a young ſeal out of the wa⯑ter: It is ſtrange that writers ſhould give the name of Niſus to the ſparrow-hawk, when the poet expreſsly mentions the bird into which the father of Scylla was tranſ⯑formed.
LII. PEREGRINE FALCON.
Br. Zool. I. 136. Br. Mus.
THIS engraving was taken from a dark colored and very beautiful ſpeci⯑men preſerved in the Britiſh Muſeum. Theſe birds breed in the north of Scotland, and are ſometimes trained for falconry, being an excellent ſpecies. They never quit their [52]prey as long as it is in ſight, but daſh through the thickeſt woods after it. This is the ſpecies * which Dame Juliana Barnes, ſayeth, is by the beſt judgments bequeathed to an Earl.
LIII. BUZZARD.
Br. Zool. I. 143. Falco Buteo. Carniol. Kaine, Scopoli An. I. No. 4.
LIV.
CROW.
Br. Zool. I. 167. Corvus vulgaris. Carniol. oru, Sco⯑poli No. 36.
VERY few crows in the highlands of Scotland, the Royſton, or as it is called there the hooded crow, being much more numerous.
JACK-DAW.
Br. Zool. I. 175. Br. Mus. Scopoli No. 38.
JACK-DAWS ſometimes breed in hol⯑low trees, near a rookery, and will join the rooks in their foraging parties. []
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[]
[53]They alſo breed in the interſtices between the upright and tranſome ſtories of ſtone-henge, a proof of the prodigious height of that ſtupendous antiquity, for their neſts, are placed beyond the reach of the ſhepherds boys, who are always idling about the place: but in the neighboring country of Hamp⯑ſhire, theſe birds affect as humble a ſituation to breed in as the other is lofty, laying and bringing up their young in the rabbet bur⯑rows.
LV.
CUCKOO, FEMALE.
Br. Zool. I. 182. Carniol. Kukautra, Scopoli, No. 48. Br. Mus.
JUVENAL * very properly transfers the diſgrace of cuckoldom to the bird in whoſe neſt the cuckoo leaves its offspring.
WRYNECK.
Br. Zool. I. 181. Carniol. Tſchudeſch, Scopoli, No. 50. Br. Mus.
BOTH theſe birds migrate in the winter from Carniola. This feeds on ants, [54]as we found on opening the ſtomach of one recently killed. Its note is like that of a Keſtrel, a quick repeated ſqueak.
LVI.
NUTHATCH.
Br. Zool. I. 185. Carniol. Barleſs, Scopoli, No. 50. Br. Mus.
LAYS up againſt winter a conſider⯑able proviſion of nuts in a hollow tree.
KINGFISHER.
Br. Zool. I. 187. Alcedo Iſpida Scopoli, No. 64. Br. Mus.
LVII.
CREEPER.
Br. Zool. I. 193. Certhia familiaris. Scopoli, No. 59. Br. Mus.
HOOPOK.
Br. Zool. I. 195. Smerda kaura, Smerduch Scopoli No. 62.
FEEDS on infects which it picks out of ordure of all kinds, carries them to its young, which ſeems the reaſon why []
[]
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[]
[55]its neſt is ſo exceſſive foetid. Is found far S. as Ceylon: alſo found in Aegypt, where it is called Tir Chaous, or meſſenger bird, from its creſt reſembling the plumes worn by the Chaous or Turkiſh meſſengers *.
LVIII. CHOUGH.
Br. Zool. I. 197. Gracula Pyrrhocorax. Italis Zaola, Zola. Scopoli No. 46, Br. Mus.
SCOPOLI ſays that in Carniola and Carinthia, it devours the locuſts, is very fond of juniper berries; and that the feet of ſome turn black in autumn.
LIX. BUSTARD.
Br. Zool. I. 214. Otis Tarda. Scopoli, No. 159.
DRAWN in all its inſolence from a moſt beautiful bird in the menagery of her grace the Dutcheſs Dowager of Port⯑land.
LX. BLACKBIRDS.
[56]Br. Zool. I. 228. Carniol. Koſs, Scopoli No. 197. Br. Mus.
LXI.
RING-OUZEL.
Br. Zool. I. 229. Turdus Torquatus Scopoli No. 198. Br. Mus.
To this account I muſt add, that theſe migratory flocks ſeem to be on their paſ⯑ſage to ſome other kingdom; for as far as I could learn, that this ſpecies, which is found plentifully in the mountanous parts of Wales and in the highlands of Scotland *, reſides in both places the whole year: it breeds in the hills, and comes down from the highlands in flocks to eat the berries of the wicken trees. I have ſeen theſe birds diſturbed in the breeding ſeaſon, when they flutter for ſome time about, and make a harſh chattering noiſe.
STARE.
Br. Zool. I. 231. Carniol. Starl. Scopoli, No. 189. Br. Mus.
DURING winter aſſemble in my⯑riads in the fens of Lincolnſhire and do great damage to the fenmen, by break⯑ing [58]down the reeds by rooſting on them; the reeds being the thatch of that country, and harveſted for that purpoſe with great care.
LXII.
SKY LARK.
Br. Zool. II. 233. Carniol. Lauditza. Scopoli No. 184. Br. Mus.
YELLOW WAGTAIL.
Br. Zool. II. 276. Italis Squaſſacoda d'acqua Scopoli No. 225. Br. Mus.
THIS ſpecies migrates during winter from our country. A few of the grey, and of the white wagtails continue with us.
WHITE WAGTAIL.
Br. Zool. II. 275. Carniol. Pliſka, Paſteritza. Scopoli No. 224. Br. Mus.
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LXIII. GOATSUCKER.
[59]Br. Zool. II. 246. Caprimulgus Europeus. Scopoli No. 167. Br. Mus.
MALE, and female. The error of their ſucking the teats of goats and other horned cattle, prevalent from the time of Ariſtotle * to the preſent: for Scopoli ſeems to credit the report. In fact their food is only moths and nocturnal inſects; perhaps Dorrs, or canthari, for which reaſon Charlton calls them Cantharophagi **.
LXIV.
PINE BULL FINCH.
- Loxia enucleator. L. Linea alarum duplici alba, rectricibus totis nigricantibus. Lin. Syſt. 299.
- Suecis Tallbit, Swanſk Papgoja. Wbothnis natt-waka. Faun. Snece. No. 223.
- Coccothrauſies canadenſis Briſſon av. III. 250. Pl. Enl. 135. Greateſt Bull-Finch Edw. 123, 124.
INHABITS the pine foreſts of Inver⯑cauld in the county of Aberdeen and per⯑haps other parts of Scotland. Found alſo [60]in the north of Europe and of America; feeds on the ſeeds of the pine and fir: Linnaeus ſays they ſing in the night. I have ſeen them flying in the foreſts of North Britain, Auguſt the fifth, ſo ſuppoſe they breed there.
Length nine inches three quarters. Bill ſtrong, duſky, hooked at the end; head, back, neck, and breaſt of a rich crimſon; the bottom of the feathers of a deep aſh⯑color; back and head ſpotted with black; leſſer coverts of the wings duſky edged with orange croſſed with a white line, and the greater coverts with another; quil feathers and tail duſky; the exterior edges of the feathers whitiſh; lower belly and vent aſh-color; legs black.
The female is of a dirty green; the quil feathers and tail duſky.
CROSS-BILL:
Br. Zool. II. 279. Loxia curviroſtra. Scopoli. No. 200.
The female.
LXV. SPARROWS.
[61]Br. Zool. II. 300. Carniol. Grabetz, Scopoli. No. 220. Br. Mus.
SPARROWS ſometimes make their neſts in trees that are near buildings.
LXVI.
SISKINS.
Br. Zool. II. 309. Carniol. Saiſl, Scopoli. No. 212. Br. Mus.
TWITE.
Br. Zool. II. 315. Br. Mus.
IS very ſoon tamed; is almoſt inceſſantly uttering a weak low note.
LXVII.
GREAT RED-POLL.
Br. Zool. II. 312. Br. Mus.
LESS REDPOLL.
[62]Br. Zool. II. 313. Br. Mus.
LXVIII. TITMICE.
1. GREAT.
Br. Zool. II. 334. Carniol. Snitza, Sco⯑poli. No. 242. Br. Mus.
IS very deſtructive to bees; watches thoſe inſects at the door of the hive, and catches them as they go in and out: If the bees are not inclined to ſtir out, the titmouſe will ſtrike againſt the hive with its bill in order to force them abroad.
2. BLUE.
Br. Zool. II. 325. Carneol. Blava ſnitza, Blau-mandltz. Scopoli. No. 244. Br. Mus.
3. COLE.
Br. Zool. II. 326. Scopoli. No. 246.
4. Marſh.
Br. Zool. II. 326. Scopoli. No. 245. Br. Mus.
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LXIX. RED GODWIT.
[63]Br. Zool. II. 354. Br. Mus.
DR. BUCKWORTH, of Waſhenborough, Linconſhire, informed me, that a few of theſe birds breed in the fens, near his houſe.
LXX. WHIMBERL.
- Br. Zool. II. 347.
- Kleiner Goiſſer. Kramer. 350.
I Received one from Invercauld, ſhot on the Grampian hills, where they breed: it differed from that deſcribed in the Britiſh Zoology, and perhaps might have been of another ſex.
The length was ſixteen inches; the bill two; the head round, black on the top, divided lengthways by a white line; chin white; cheeks, neck, breaſt, and upper part of the belly of a whitiſh brown, mark⯑ed with ſtreaks of black, pointing down⯑wards: [64]the ſtreaks on the neck narrow, on the belly broader; lower belly and vent white. Back and coverts of the wings duſky; the ſides of each feather ſpotted with reddiſh white. Lower part of the back white. Rump white, barred with black. Tail barred with duſky and white; quil feathers black, with large white ſpots on the inner webs only; the ſecondaries ſpotted on both webs. Legs black.
Theſe birds are called at Spalding, cur⯑lew knots: appear in that neighborhood in April, continue there a month, and never reviſit the place till the year following, and about the ſame time.
LXXI.
SNIPE.
Br. Zool. II. 358. Carniol. Koſitza, Scopoli. No. 138. Br. Mus.
JACKINIPE.
Br. Zool. II. 350. Carniol. Pokerl, Scopoli. No. 139. Br. Mus.
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LXXII.
[65]RED SANDPIPER.
- Tringa Icelandica. Tr. roſtro pedibuſque fuſcis, corpore ſubtus ferrugineo, remigibus ſecundariis margine albis. Lin. ſyſt. inter addenda.
- Tringa ferruginea iſlandis Randbriſlanger Brunnich. ornith Boreal. No. 180.
HAVE appeared in great flocks on the coaſt of Eſſex, on the eſtate of Col. Schutz.
Crown of the head ſpotted with black and ferruginous. The lower ſide of the neck, the breaſt, and belly of a full ferru⯑ginous color. Back marked with black and ruſt color. Coverts of the wings aſh-colour; legs black. Bill ſtrong, an inch and a half long: the whole length of the bird ten inches.
GREEN PLOVER.
- Br. Zool. II. 379.
- The variety with a minute back toe, mentioned Br. Zool. II. 380.
GREEN plovers breed on the Cheviot hills, in Northumberland, and in the highlands of Scotland. The bellies of the young birds are black.
LXXIII.
[66]DOTREL.
Br. Zool. II. 381.
APPEARS near the ſea ſide at Mea⯑les, in Lancaſhire, the beginning of April, frequents the barley fallows, and continue there about three weeks; from thence remove northward to a place called Leyton Haws, where they ſtay only a fort⯑night. From the account I received of certain birds that breed in the Highlands, I ſuſpect that lofty tract to be one of the ſummer retreats of the dotrel.
SANDERLING.
Br. Zool. II. 384.
THESE birds vary much in their marks, ſome being much whiter than others.
LXXIV.
WATER-RAIL.
Br. Zool. II. 385. Rallus aquaticus Scopoli. No. 155. Br. Mus.
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LAND RAIL.
[67]Br. Zool. II. 387. Carncol. Roſtz, Scopoli. No. 154.
LXXV. SCOLLOP TOED SANDPIPERS.
GREY.
Br. Zool. II. 391.
RED.
Br. Zool. II. 391.
SHOT on the banks of a freſh water pool in the Iſle of Stronſa, one of the Orknies, May, 1769 *.
Size of a purr. Bill an inch long, ſtrait to near the end, which bends a little downwards. Crown of the head, hind part of the neck, back, ſcapulars, and coverts of the wings of a deep lead color; the back and ſcapulars ſtriped with dirty yellow. Croſs the greater coverts is a line of white. Throat white; under part and ſides of the neck of a bright ferruginous; breaſt of a deep cinereous; belly white; tail ſhort and cinereous; legs black.
LXXVI.
[68]WATER-HEN.
Br. Zool. II. 388. Fulica Chloropus, Scopoli, No. 153. Br. Mus.
COOT.
Br. Zool. II. 392. Carniol. Liſka. Scopoli, No. 149. Br. Mus.
A Few years ago a white coot was ſhot near Spalding. I have been credibly informed that the common coots will lay fourteen Eggs.
LXXVII.
LITTLE GREBE.
Br. Zool. II. 398.
IN the male birds the chin is black; the feathers on the cheeks, over the ears, bright ferruginous. Theſe breed as far north as the iſle of Tirey, one of the weſtern iſles of Scotland.
LESSER CRESTED GREBE.
Br. Zool. II. 396. Colymbus auritus. Scopoli, No. 100, Br. Mus.
Length to the rump one foot; extent of wings twenty-two inches. Bill turns up a little; lorum naked and black; irides red. Behind each eye a long tuft of ferruginous feathers, pointing backwards; feathers on the head, cheeks, and throat full and black; neck, back, and quil feathers black; ſe⯑condaries white; ſides under the wings as far as the rump of a bright ſerruginous color. Belly white and gloſſy; outſide of the legs duſky, inſide greeniſh.
LXXVIII. AVOSETTA.
Br. Zool. II. 399. Scolopax avoſetta Scopoli, No. 129. Br. Mus.
ARE found in conſiderable numbers during the breeding ſeaſon, near Foſs⯑dyke waſh, in Lincolnſhire, called there Yelpers, on account of their noiſe; and ſometimes Picarinis. Like the lapwing when diſturbed, fly about and have a ſhrill note (twit) twice repeated; and carry their long necks and legs quite extended during their flight.
LXXIX.
[70]HERRING GULL.
Br. Zool. II. 421.
WAGEL.
Br. Zool. II. 422.
LXXX:
WINTER MEW.
Br. Zool. II. 423.
BLACK TOED GULL.
Br. Zool. II. 419.
A Variety that in color nearly ap⯑proaches that deſcribed by doctor Lyſons, in the 52d volume of the Phil. Tranſ. p. 135.
LXXXI.
GREAT TERN.
Br. Zool. II. 428. Br. Mus.
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LESS TERN.
[71]Br. Zool. II. 429. Br. Mus.
LXXXII.
FULMAR.
Br. Zool. II. 431.
STORM FINCH.
Br. Zool. II. 434.
LXXXIII. RED BREASTED GOOSANDER.
Br. Zool. II. 437. Edw. 95, Br. Mus.
MALE and female: the firſt rarely migrates farther ſouth than the Firth of Forth; the female is often ſeen in the ſouthern parts of this iſland.
LXXXIV. WILD GOOSE.
Br. Zool. II. 447.
BREEDS in ſuch numbers in Harris and Viſt, two of the weſtern iſles, that the inhabitants are obliged to watch their [72]corn to prevent it from the attacks of theſe birds. In autumn they begin to migrate ſouthward: ſome ſpecies of wild gooſe (I could not learn which) breeds in the fens of Lincolnſhire, which they leave in October, and go to the rye grounds.
Head of the white fronted wild gooſe, Br. Zool. II. 450. Branta Albifrons Scopoli, No. 87.
LXXXV. VELVET DUCK.
Br. Zool. II. 456.
Male and female.
LXXXVI. SWALLOW TAILED SHIELDRAKE.
Br. Zool. II. 469. Anas hiemalis Brunnich. ornith. Bo⯑real. No. 76.
DIFFERS from that deſcribed in the Br. Zoology; the crown of the head is duſky, reſt of the head white; all the neck; breaſt and back of a chocolate brown; ſcapulars edged with tawny; bel⯑ly white.
[73]The lower figure is a duck taken in a decoy in Lincolnſhire, ſeems only a variety of the common kind.
LXXXVII.
GAROANEY.
Br. Zool. II. 474. Anas Querquedula Scopoli No. 75. Br. Mus.
A Few breed in the fens of Lincolnſhire, called there the ſummer duck or teal.
BROWN DUCK.
LESS than the laſt above, the whole plumage is brown and cinereous, ſome parts clouded with a deeper ſhade; coverts of the wings cinereous. No ſpeculum or ſpot on the wings; quil feathers duſky; belly white: from the furtheſt corner of the eye is a whitiſh line, extending almoſt to the hind part of the neck; bill duſky and flattiſh.
I found two of theſe in Leaden-ball mar⯑ket. Whether the females of the Garganey?
LXXXVIII. LAMPRIES.
[74]- 1. LAMPREY, Br. Zool. III. 58.
- 2. LESSER L. Br. Zool. III. 60.
- 3. PRIDE L Br. Zool. III. 61.
LXXXIX.
STURGEON.
Br. Zool. III. 96.
THE drawing is taken from a young fiſh; which have the tubercles much larger in proportion than old fiſh, and alſo much cloſer together; the number of tuber⯑cles on the back differ in different fiſh, is therefore no ſpecific character.
SUN FISH.
OBLONG. Br. Zool. III. 100.
[75]SHORT. Br. Zool. III. 102. Tetrodon mola Brun⯑nich piſc. maſſil. No. 16.
MR. BRUNNICH informs us, that be⯑tween Antibes and Genoa, he ſaw one of this ſpecies lie aſleep on the ſurface of the water, and adds, that a ſailor jumped over⯑board and caught it. Perhaps the name is derived from its thus baſking on the top of the water.
I took the liberty of borrowing the figures of theſe two ſpecies from doctor Borlaſe's hiſtory of Cornwall; the ſword fiſh from Klein's hiſt. piſc. and the opah from the pbi⯑loſophical tranſactions, as I could not poſſibly procure the originals for my limner to paint.
XC. SWORD-FISH.
Br. Zool. III. 126. Xiphias gladius Brunnich, piſc. maſſil, No. 27.
XCI.
GILT-HEAD.
Br. Zool. III. 197.
ORAN.
[76]- Br. Zool. III. 201.
- Zeus cauda cauda bifurca, colore argenteo, pur⯑pureo ſplendens Strom Sondmor. 323.325. tab. I. fig. 20.
A Fiſh inhabiting the Norwegian and North Britiſh ſeas; to be placed in the genus of zeus, in the Artedian ſyſtem; and to be removed into that of doree in the Br. Zool. III. 181.
XCII.
PERCH.
Crooked Perch, Br. Zool. III. 213. phil. tranſ. LVII. 204. Faun. ſuec. No. 332. p. 118.
A Variety with a very hunched back, and the back bone near the tail laterally diſtorted; found in Great Britain in the water of Llyn Raithlyn in Merionethſhire; ſome have been taken of two pounds weight; but they are moſt commonly much ſmaller. In ſome parts of Caernarvonſhire, are alſo found trouts with the ſame curvature, which likewiſe never attain the ſize of the common ſort.
SEA PERCH.
[77]- Une perche de mer, Belon. 163.
- Perca marina, Salvian. 225. Rondel. 182. Wil. Icth. 327. Raii ſyn. piſc. 140.
- Perca lineis utrinque ſeptem tranſverſis, nigris, duc⯑tibus miniaceis, coeruleiſque in capite et antica ventris, Arted. ſyn. piſc. 68.
- Perca marina. P. pinnis dorſalibus unitis radiis xv ſpinoſis, xiv muticis, corpore lituris variegato, Lin. ſyſt. 483.
TAKEN in the ſea near Scarborough, but omitted in the Britiſh Zoology; grows to the length of a foot; the head large and deformed; irides yellow; on the gill covers two large ſpines; body deep; back fins united: the rays next the head ſpiny, the others ſoft; tail ſlightly forked; color on the head and fore part of the belly red and blue diſpoſed in ſtripes; the reſt of the body and fins red tinged with yel⯑low.
XCIII.
LOCHE.
Br. Zool. III. 239.
SALMON.
Br. Zool. III. 239.
ALL fiſhermen agree that they never find any food in the ſtomach of this fiſh; it is likely that many neglect their [78]food entirely during the time of ſpawning and melting; as ſea lions * and ſea bears ** are known to do for months together during their breeding ſeaſon: and it may be obſerved, that like thoſe animals the ſal⯑mons return to the ſea lank and lean; and come from the ſalt water in good condition. It is evident that their food is both fiſh and worms, for the angler uſes both with ſuc⯑ceſs, as well as a large gaudy colored artificial fly, which probably the fiſh miſ⯑takes for a gay libellula, or dragon fly.
Otters are ſaid to hunt this ſtrong and active fiſh, in concert; one ſtations itſelf above, another beneath the place where the fiſh lies, and continue chaſing it inceſſant⯑ly from one to the other, till the ſalmon quite wearied, becomes their prey ‡.
XCIV.
[79]MULLET.
Br. Zool. III. 278.
PAR.
A Small ſpecies never exceeding eight inches and a half in length; but very rarely reaches that ſize: the ſides marked with eight or nine large oval ſpots, lying tranſverſly; and of a bluiſh color; the ſide line marked with red ſpots; and above them in old fiſh are ſome black ſpots; tail forked.
Common in the rivers of Scotland; the river Levin that waſhes Dunbarton, during the month of May, is animated with their fry: are perhaps a variety of the ſamlet. Br. Zool. III. 253.
XCV.
PIKE.
Br. Zool. III. 270.
SIA PIKE.
Br. Zool. III. 274.
XCVI.
[80]GATTORUGINE.
Br. Zool. III. 168.
CRESTED.
Creſted Blenny, Br. Zool. III. 167.
SPOTTED.
Spotted Blenny, Br. Zool. III. 171.
XCVII. WRASSES.
THESE three ſpecies were ſent to me from the coaſt of Cornwall.
The firſt was of a ſlender form; the back, fins, and tail red; the belly yellow; the ſides marked beneath the ſide line with a ſmooth, even ſtripe from the gills to the tail of a ſilvery color; the tail rounded at the end. P. D. 20. ſpiny, 11. ſoft. Pect. 14. vent. 5, an, 3 ſpiny, 7 ſoft. caud, 14. perhaps the COMBER, Br. Zool. III, 210.
[81]The ſecond, a deeper ſpecies, of a red color, ſtriped with yellow about the head; the tail rounded; the red on the fins and tail more brilliant than the body.
P. D. 16 ſpiny, 9 ſoft. Pect. 14, vent, 5. an. 3 ſpiny, 9 ſoft, caud, 13.
The third, the colors of this were much faded, but ſeemed to have been olive or greeniſh; was marked with a black ſpot near the tail; another about the vent. Goldſinny, Br. Zool. III. 209.
P. D. 16 ſpiny, 9 ſoft. Pect. 14. vent. 6. an. 3 ſpiny 11 ſoft. caud. 15. tail almoſt even.
XCVIII.
SCAD.
Br. Zool. III. 225.
MACKREL.
Br. Zool. III. 221.
MACKREL appear very late on the coaſts of Scotland, I think not till Auguſt, and are ſmall and lean in compari⯑ſon [82]ſon of what they are in the ſouth of Great Britain. It is a common opinion among fiſhermen, that at a certain ſeaſon of the year, theſe fiſh are blind, and they aſſert they have taken them with a film over their eyes. Martin relates ſomething to this purpoſe, in his voyage to Spitsbergen, p. 121, he ſays he took * ſome mackrel near the iſle of St. Kilda that were half blind, occaſioned by a black ſkin which grows over their eyes in winter and comes off the beginning of ſummer.
XCIX. GOAT.
Br. Zool. I. 29.
C.
OTTER.
Br. Zool. I. 67.
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BADGER.
[83]Br. Zool. I. 64.
CI.
ERMINE.
Br. Zool. I. 84.
TAKEN in the winter of 1770, in Whiteford pariſh, Flintſhire, at a time when it had undergone only a partial change of color.
WEISEL.
Br. Zool. I. 82.
CII.
WATER SHREW-MOUSE.
- Mus araneus dorſo nigro ventreque albo Merr [...] Pinax. 167.
- La muſaraigne d'eau de Buffon. viii. 64. tab.
- Sorex fodiens. Pallas ined.
FOUND in the fens of Lincolnſhire, May, 1768, where it is called, from the ſmallneſs of its eyes, the blind mouſe: [84]the Germans call it Groeber, or digger. I imagine it is the ſame which the inhabitants of Sutherland name the water mole; and thoſe of Caithnes the Lavellan. Inhabits the banks of ditches and other wet places; brings, according to M. de Buffon, nine young at a time.
Length from the noſe to the tail is three inches three quarters; tail two inches; eyes very ſmall; noſe long; color of the head and upper-part of the body black; belly white, or very pale aſh-color; beneath the tail is a triangular duſky ſpot.
MOUSE.
Common mouſe Br. Zool. I. 105.
CIII.
BATS.
Long eared bat, Br. Zool. I. 116.
NOCTULE.
La noctule de Buffon. viii. tab. XVIII p. 128.
A Species firſt diſcovered by M. de Buf⯑fon, in Burgundy; ſince that in Flint⯑ſhire, and in other parts of England; ranges high in the air for food; retires early in ſummer.
[85]Is the largeſt kind in Great Britain; its length being four inches 6/10 tail incluſive; that of the tail one 7/10 ears ſmall and round⯑ed; eyes ſmall; noſe bilobated; on the chin a little verruca; color of the fur fer⯑ruginous.
Theſe bats collect in great numbers in ſome places, if I miſtake not the ſpecies; for doctor Buckworth informed me, that at Queen's College, Cambridge, in one night were taken in a net placed againſt the eaves 185, the ſecond night 63, the third night 2, and in two or three years after 95 were taken in one night, each meaſuring fifteen inches in extent.