Part 1
[Illustration:
_PLATE I._ GOLDEN EAGLE. ⅙ NAT. SIZE.]
BRITISH BIRDS
BY
W. H. HUDSON, C.M.Z.S.
WITH A CHAPTER ON STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION BY FRANK E. BEDDARD, F.R.S.
_With 8 Coloured Plates from Original Drawings by A. Thorburn and 8 Plates and 100 Figures in black and white from Original Drawings by G. E. Lodge and 3 Illustrations from Photographs from Nature by R. B. Lodge_
NEW IMPRESSION
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS 1921
_All rights reserved_
CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE ANATOMY OF A BIRD 1
CLASSIFICATION 34
_Order_ PASSERES.
MISSEL-THRUSH. _Turdus viscivorus_ 39
SONG-THRUSH. _Turdus musicus_ 41
REDWING. _Turdus iliacus_ 45
FIELDFARE. _Turdus pilaris_ 46
Black-throated Thrush. _Turdus atrigularis_ 52
White’s Thrush. _Turdus varius_ 52
BLACKBIRD. _Turdus merula_ 49
RING-OUZEL. _Turdus torquatus_ 50
Rock-Thrush. _Monticola saxatilis_ 52
WHEATEAR. _Saxicola œnanthe_ 52
Black-throated Wheatear. _Saxicola strapazina_ 54
Desert Wheatear. _Saxicola deserti_ 54
WHINCHAT. _Pratincola rubetra_ 54
STONECHAT. _Pratincola rubicola_ 56
REDSTART. _Ruticilla phœnicurus_ 57
Black Redstart. _Ruticilla titys_ 59
White-spotted Bluethroat. CYANECULA WOLFI 59
Red-spotted Bluethroat. _Cyanecula suecica_ 59
REDBREAST. _Erithacus rubecula_ 59
NIGHTINGALE. _Daulias luscinia_ 62
WHITETHROAT. _Sylvia cinerea_ 64
LESSER WHITETHROAT. _Sylvia curruca_ 66
Orphean Warbler. _Sylvia orphea_ 70
BLACKCAP. _Sylvia atricapilla_ 67
GARDEN WARBLER. _Sylvia hortensis_ 69
Barred Warbler. _Sylvia nisoria_ 70
DARTFORD WARBLER. _Melizophilus undatus_ 70
GOLDCREST. _Regulus cristatus_ 72
Firecrest. _Regulus ignicapillus_ 74
Yellow-browed Warbler. _Phylloscopus superciliosus_ 79
CHIFFCHAFF. _Phylloscopus rufus_ 74
WILLOW-WREN. _Phylloscopus trochilus_ 76
WOOD-WREN. _Phylloscopus sibilatrix_ 78
Icterine Warbler. _Hypolaïs icterina_ 79
Rufous Warbler. _Aëdon galectodes_ 79
REED-WARBLER. _Acrocephalus streperus_ 79
Marsh-Warbler. _Acrocephalus palustris_ 82
Great Reed-Warbler. _Acrocephalus turdoïdes_ 82
Aquatic Warbler. _Acrocephalus aquaticus_ 82
SEDGE-WARBLER. _Acrocephalus phragmitis_ 80
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. _Locustella nævia_ 82
Savi’s Warbler. _Locustella luscinioïdes_ 84
HEDGE-SPARROW. _Accentor modularis_ 84
Alpine Accentor. _Accentor collaris_ 85
DIPPER. _Cinclus aquaticus_ 86
Black-bellied Dipper. _Cinclus melanogaster_ 88
BEARDED TITMOUSE. _Panurus biamicus_ 89
Long-tailed Titmouse. _Acredula caudata_ 90
LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. _Acredula rosea_ 92
GREAT TITMOUSE. _Parus major_ 92
Coal-Titmouse (Continental). _Parus ater_ 94
COAL-TITMOUSE. _Parus britannicus_ 94
MARSH TITMOUSE. _Parus palustris_ 96
BLUE TITMOUSE. _Parus cæruleus_ 97
CRESTED TITMOUSE. _Parus cristatus_ 98
NUTHATCH. _Sitta cæsia_ 99
WREN. _Troglodytes parvulus_ 101
White Wagtail. _Motacilla alba_ 108
PIED WAGTAIL. _Motacilla lugubris_ 104
GREY WAGTAIL. _Motacilla melanope_ 105
Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. _Motacilla flava_ 108
YELLOW WAGTAIL. _Motacilla rayii_ 107
MEADOW-PIPIT. _Anthus pratensis_ 108
TREE-PIPIT. _Anthus trivialis_ 110
Tawny Pipit. _Anthus campestris_ 113
Richard’s Pipit. _Anthus richardi_ 113
Water Pipit. _Anthus spipoletta_ 113
ROCK-PIPIT. _Anthus obscurus_ 112
Golden Oriole. _Oriolus galbulus_ 114
Great Grey Shrike. _Lanius excubitor_ 116
Pallas’s Great Grey Shrike. _Lanius major_ 116
Lesser Grey Shrike. _Lanius minor_ 116
RED-BACKED SHRIKE. _Lanius collurio_ 114
Woodchat. _Lanius pomeranus_ 116
Waxwing. _Ampelis garrulus_ 114
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. _Muscicapa grisola_ 116
PIED FLYCATCHER. _Muscicapa atricapilla_ 118
Red-breasted Flycatcher. _Muscicapa parva_ 118
SWALLOW. _Hirundo rustica_ 118
MARTIN. _Chelidon urbica_ 121
SAND-MARTIN. _Cotile riparia_ 122
TREE-CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris_ 124
GOLDFINCH. _Carduelis elegans_ 126
SISKIN. _Chrysometris spinus_ 127
Serin. _Serinus hortulanus_ 128
GREENFINCH. _Ligurinus chloris_ 128
HAWFINCH. _Coccothraustes vulgaris_ 130
HOUSE-SPARROW. _Passer domesticus_ 132
TREE-SPARROW. _Passer montanus_ 133
CHAFFINCH. _Fringilla cœlebs_ 134
BRAMBLING. _Fringilla montifringilla_ 137
LINNET. _Linota cannabina_ 138
Mealy Redpoll. _Linota linaria_ 140
LESSER REDPOLL. _Linota rufescens_ 139
Greenland Redpoll. _Linota hornemanni_ 140
TWITE. _Linota flavirostris_ 141
Rosy Bullfinch. _Carpodacus erythrinus_ 144
BULLFINCH. _Pyrrhula europæa_ 142
Pine Grossbeak. _Pinicola enucleator_ 144
Parrot Crossbill. _Loxia pittyopsittacus_ 145
CROSSBILL. _Loxia curvirostra_ 144
White-winged Crossbill. _Loxia leucoptera_ 145
Two-barred Crossbill. _Loxia bifasciata_ 145
Black-headed Bunting. _Emberiza melanocephala_ 154
CORN-BUNTING. _Emberiza miliaria_ 146
YELLOWHAMMER. _Emberiza citrinella_ 148
CIRL BUNTING. _Emberiza cirlus_ 150
Ortolan Bunting. _Emberiza hortulana_ 154
Rustic Bunting. _Emberiza rustica_ 154
Little Bunting. _Emberiza pusilla_ 154
REED-BUNTING. _Emberiza schœniclus_ 151
Lapland Bunting. _Calcarius lapponica_ 154
SNOW-BUNTING. _Plectrophanes nivalis_ 152
STARLING. _Sturnus vulgaris_ 154
Rose-coloured Pastor. _Pastor roseus_ 156
CHOUGH. _Pyrrhocorax graculus_ 157
Nutcracker. _Nucifraga caryocatactes_ 174
JAY. _Garrulus glandarius_ 158
MAGPIE. _Pica rustica_ 160
JACKDAW. _Corvus monedula_ 163
CARRION CROW. _Corvus corone_ 166
HOODED CROW. _Corvus cornix_ 167
ROOK. _Corvus frugilegus_ 168
RAVEN. _Corvus corax_ 172
SKYLARK. _Alauda arvensis_ 174
WOODLARK. _Alauda arborea_ 176
Crested Lark. _Alauda cristata_ 178
Short-toed Lark. _Calendrella brachydactyla_ 178
White-winged Lark. _Melanocorypha sibirica_ 178
Shore Lark. _Otocorys alpestris_ 178
_Order_ PICARIÆ.
SWIFT. _Cypselus apus_ 178
White-bellied Swift. _Cypselus melba_ 179
Needle-tailed Swift. _Acanthyllis caudacuta_ 179
NIGHTJAR. _Caprimulgus europæus_ 179
Red-necked Nightjar. _Caprimulgus ruficollis_ 181
Egyptian Nightjar. _Caprimulgus ægyptius_ 181
SPOTTED WOODPECKER. _Dendrocopus major_ 181
BARRED WOODPECKER. _Dendrocopus minor_ 183
GREEN WOODPECKER. _Gecinus viridis_ 184
WRYNECK. _Iẏnx torquilla_ 186
KINGFISHER. _Alcedo ispida_ 188
Belted Kingfisher. _Ceryle alcyon_ 189
Roller. _Coracius garrula_ 190
Bee-eater. _Merops apiaster_ 190
Hoopoe. _Upupa epops_ 190
CUCKOO. _Cuculus canorus_ 190
Great Spotted Cuckoo. _Coccystes glandarius_ 193
Yellow-billed Cuckoo. _Coccyzus americanus_ 193
Black-billed Cuckoo. _Coccyzus erythrophthalmus_ 193
_Order_ STRIGES.
BARN-OWL. _Strix flammea_ 193
LONG-EARED OWL. _Asio otus_ 196
SHORT-EARED OWL. _Asio brachyotus_ 197
TAWNY OWL. _Syrnium aluco_ 198
Snowy Owl. _Nyctea scandiaca_ 199
European Hawk-Owl. _Surnia ulula_ 199
American Hawk-Owl. _Surnia funeria_ 199
Tengmalm’s Owl. _Nyctala tengmalmi_ 199
Scops Owl. _Scops giu_ 199
Eagle Owl. _Bubo ignavus_ 199
Little Owl. _Athene noctua_ 199
_Order_ ACCIPITRES.
Griffon Vulture. _Gyps fulvus_ 216
Egyptian Vulture. _Neophron percnopterus_ 216
Marsh-Harrier. _Circus æruginosus_ 216
HEN HARRIER. _Circus cyaneus_ 199
MONTAGU’S HARRIER. _Circus cineraceus_ 201
BUZZARD. _Buteo vulgaris_ 202
Rough-legged Buzzard. _Archibuteo lagopus_ 216
Spotted Eagle. _Aquila clanga_ 216
GOLDEN EAGLE. _Aquila chrysaëtus_ 204
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. _Haliaëtus albicilla_ 205
Goshawk. _Astur palumbarius_ 216
American Goshawk. _Astur atricapilla_ 216
SPARROW-HAWK. _Accipiter nisus_ 206
KITE. _Milvus ictinus_ 207
Black Kite. _Milvus nigrans_ 216
Swallow-tailed Kite. _Elanoïdes furcatus_ 217
Honey-Buzzard. _Pernis apivorus_ 217
Gyrfalcon. _Hierofalco gyrfalco_ 217
Greenland Falcon. _Hierofalco candicans_ 217
Iceland Falcon. _Hierofalco islandicus_ 217
PEREGRINE FALCON. _Falco peregrinus_ 208
HOBBY. _Falco subbuteo_ 210
MERLIN. _Falco æsalon_ 211
Red-footed Falcon. _Tinnunculus vespertinus_ 217
KESTREL. _Tinnunculus alaudarius_ 212
Lesser Kestrel. _Tinnunculus cenchris_ 217
OSPREY. _Pandion haliaëtus_ 215
_Order_ STEGANOPODES.
CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax carbo_ 218
SHAG. _Phalacrocorax graculus_ 220
GANNET. _Sula bassana_ 221
_Order_ HERODIONES.
HERON. _Ardea cinerea_ 223
Purple Heron. _Ardea purpurea_ 226
Great White Heron. _Ardea alba_ 226
Little Egret. _Ardea gazetta_ 226
Buff-backed Heron. _Ardea bubulcus_ 226
Squacco Heron. _Ardea ralloïdes_ 226
LITTLE BITTERN. _Ardetta minuta_ 226
Night Heron. _Nycticorax griseus_ 226
BITTERN. _Botaurus stellaris_ 224
American Bittern. _Botaurus lentiginosus_ 226
White Stork. _Ciconia alba_ 226
Black Stork. _Ciconia nigra_ 226
Spoonbill. _Platalea leucorodia_ 226
Glossy Ibis. _Plegadis falcinellus_ 226
_Order_ ANSERES.
GREY LAG GOOSE. _Anser cinereus_ 227
BEAN-GOOSE. _Anser segetum_ 228
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. _Anser brachyrhynchus_ 229
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. _Anser albifrons_ 230
Cassins Snow Goose. _Chen albatus_ 227
BRENT GOOSE. _Bernicla brenta_ 230
BARNACLE GOOSE. _Bernicla leucopsis_ 232
Red-breasted Goose. _Bernicla ruficollis_ 227
MUTE SWAN. _Cygnus olor_ 233
Polish Swan. _Cygnus immutabilis_ 233
WHOOPER SWAN. _Cygnus musicus_ 234
Bewick’s Swan. _Cygnus bewickii_ 234
COMMON SHELDRAKE. _Tadorna cornuta_ 235
Ruddy Sheldrake. _Tadorna casarca_ 236
WIGEON. _Mareca penelope_ 237
American Wigeon. _Mareca americana_ 238
PINTAIL. _Dafila acuta_ 238
MALLARD. _Anas boscas_ 239
GADWELL. _Chaulelasmus streperus_ 241
GARGANEY. _Querquedula circia_ 243
Blue-winged Teal. _Querquedula discors_ 244
COMMON TEAL. _Querquedula crecca_ 244
American Green-winged Teal. _Querquedula carolinensis_ 244
SHOVELER. _Spatula clypeata_ 245
Red-Crested Pochard. _Fuligula rufina_ 246
TUFTED DUCK. _Fuligula cristata_ 246
SCAUP. _Fuligula marila_ 247
POCHARD. _Fuligula ferina_ 248
White-eyed Duck. _Nyroca ferruginea_ 246
GOLDENEYE. _Clangula glaucion_ 249
Barrow’s Goldeneye. _Clangula islandica_ 246
Buffel-headed Duck. _Clangula albeola_ 246
Harlequin Duck. _Cosmonetta histrionica_ 246
LONG-TAILED DUCK. _Harelda glacialis_ 250
Steller’s Duck. _Heniconetta stelleri_ 246
EIDER DUCK. _Somateria mollissima_ 251
King Eider. _Somateria spectabilis_ 246
COMMON SCOTER. _Œdemia nigra_ 253
VELVET SCOTER. _Œdemia fusca_ 54
Surf-Scoter. _Œdemia perspicillata_ 246
GOOSANDER. _Mergus merganser_ 255
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. _Mergus serrator_ 256
Hooded Merganser. _Mergus cucullatus_ 246
SMEW. _Mergus albellus_ 258
_Order_ COLUMBÆ.
WOOD-PIGEON. _Columba palumbus_ 258
STOCK-DOVE. _Columba œnas_ 261
ROCK-DOVE. _Columba livia_ 261
TURTLE-DOVE. _Turtur communis_ 262
Passenger Pigeon. _Ectopistes migratorius_ 264
_Order_ PTEROCLETES.
Pallas’s Sand-Grouse. _Syrrhaptes paradoxus_ 264
_Order_ GALLINÆ.
PHEASANT. _Phasianus colchicus_ 264
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. _Caccabis rufa_ 265
Barbary Partridge. _Caccabis petrosa_ 266
PARTRIDGE. _Perdix cinerea_ 267
QUAIL. _Coturnix communis_ 269
PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus mutus_ 270
RED GROUSE. _Lagopus scoticus_ 272
BLACK GROUSE. _Tetrao tetrix_ 273
CAPERCAILLIE. _Tetrao urogallus_ 275
_Order_ FULICARIÆ.
WATER-RAIL. _Rallus aquaticus_ 277
SPOTTED CRAKE. _Porzana maruetta_ 277
Baillon’s Crake. _Porzana bailloni_ 278
Little Crake. _Porzana parva_ 278
CORNCRAKE. _Crex pratensis_ 278
MOORHEN. _Gallinula chloropus_ 279
COOT. _Fulica atra_ 280
_Order_ ALECTORIDES.
Crane. _Grus communis_ 281
Great Bustard. _Otis tarda_ 281
Little Bustard. _Otis tetrax_ 281
Macqueen’s Bustard. _Otis macqueeni_ 281
_Order_ LIMICOLÆ.
STONE-CURLEW. _Œdicnemus scolopax_ 282
Collared Pratincole. _Glareola pratincola_ 284
Cream-coloured Courser. _Cursorius gallicus_ 284
GOLDEN PLOVER. _Charadrius pluvialis_ 284
Eastern Golden Plover. _Charadrius fulvus_ 286
GREY PLOVER. _Squatarola helvetica_ 286
KENTISH PLOVER. _Ægialitis cantiana_ 287
Little Ringed Plover. _Ægialitis curonica_ 288
RINGED PLOVER. _Ægialitis hiaticula_ 287
Killdeer Plover. _Ægialitis vocifera_ 288
DOTTEREL. _Endromias morinellus_ 289
LAPWING. _Vanellus vulgaris_ 290
TURNSTONE. _Strepsilus interpres_ 292
OYSTER-CATCHER. _Hæmatopus ostralegus_ 293
Avocet. _Recurvirostra avocetta_ 316
Black-winged Stilt. _Himantopus candidus_ 316
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. _Phalaropus hyperboreus_ 294
Grey Phalarope. _Phalaropus fulicarius_ 295
WOODCOCK. _Scolopax rusticula_ 296
GREAT SNIPE. _Gallinago major_ 298
COMMON SNIPE. _Gallinago cælestis_ 299
JACK-SNIPE. _Limnocryptes gallinula_ 300
Broad-billed Sandpiper. _Limicola platyrhyncha_ 317
Pectoral Sandpiper. _Tringa maculata_ 317
Bonaparte’s Sandpiper. _Tringa fuscicollis_ 317
DUNLIN. _Tringa alpina_ 300
LITTLE STINT. _Tringa minuta_ 302
Temminck’s Stint. _Tringa temmincki_ 303
American Stint. _Tringa minutilla_ 317
CURLEW-SANDPIPER. _Tringa subarquata_ 303
PURPLE SANDPIPER. _Tringa striata_ 304
KNOT. _Tringa canutus_ 304
RUFF and REEVE. _Machetes pugnax_ 306
SANDERLING. _Calidris arenaria_ 308
Buff-breasted Sandpiper. _Tryngites rufescens_ 317
Bartram’s Sandpiper. _Actiturus longicauda_ 317
COMMON SANDPIPER. _Tringoïdes hypoleucus_ 309
GREEN SANDPIPER. _Helodromus ochropus_ 310
Wood-Sandpiper. _Totanus glareola_ 316
REDSHANK. _Totanus calidris_ 310
Spotted Redshank. _Totanus fuscus_ 316
GREENSHANK. _Totanus canescens_ 312
Red-breasted Snipe. _Macroramphus griseus_ 317
Bar-tailed Godwit. _Limosa lapponica_ 316
Black-tailed Godwit. _Limosa melanura_ 316
Esquimaux Curlew. _Numenius borealis_ 317
WHIMBREL. _Numenius phæopus_ 313
CURLEW. _Numenius arquata_ 314
_Order_ GAVLÆ.
ARCTIC TERN. _Sterna macrura_ 317
COMMON TERN. _Sterna fluviatilis_ 319
ROSEATE TERN. _Sterna dougalli_ 320
LITTLE TERN. _Sterna minuta_ 320
Caspian Tern. _Sterna caspia_ 323
Gull-billed Tern. _Sterna anglica_ 323
SANDWICH TERN. _Sterna cantiaca_ 322
Sooty Tern. _Sterna fuliginosa_ 323
Scopoli’s Sooty Tern. _Sterna anæstheta_ 323
Whiskered Tern. _Hydrochelidon hybrida_ 323
White-winged Black Tern. _Hydrochelidon leucoptera_ 323
Black Tern. _Hydrochelidon nigra_ 323
Noddy. _Anoüs stolidus_ 323
Ivory Gull. _Pagophila eburnea_ 329
KITTIWAKE. _Rissa tridactyla_ 323
Glaucous Gull. _Larus glaucus_ 329
Iceland Gull. _Larus leucopterus_ 329
HERRING-GULL. _Larus argentatus_ 324
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. _Larus fuscus_ 325
COMMON GULL. _Larus canus_ 326
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. _Larus marinus_ 327
Great Black-headed Gull. _Larus ichthyaëtus_ 330
BLACK-HEADED GULL. _Larus ridibundus_ 328
Little Gull. _Larus minutus_ 330
SABINE’S GULL. _Xema sabinii_ 330
COMMON SKUA. _Stercorarius catarrhactes_ 330
Pomatorhine Skua. _Stercorarius pomatorhinus_ 333
RICHARDSON’S SKUA. _Stercorarius crepidatus_ 333
Buffon’s Skua. _Stercorarius parasiticus_ 333
_Order_ TUBINARES.
STORMY PETREL. _Procellaria pelagica_ 333
LEACH’S PETREL. _Procellaria leucorrhoa_ 335
Wilson’s Petrel. _Oceanites oceanicus_ 336
MANX SHEARWATER. _Puffinus anglorum_ 336
Sooty Shearwater. _Puffinus griseus_ 337
Greater Shearwater. _Puffinus major_ 337
Dusky Shearwater. _Puffinus obscurus_ 337
FULMAR. _Fulmarus glacialis_ 337
Capped Petrel. _Œstrelata hæsitata_ 339
Bulwer’s Petrel. _Bulweria columbina_ 339
_Order_ PYGOPODES.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. _Colymbus glacialis_ 340
BLACK-THROATED DIVER. _Colymbus arcticus_ 341
RED-THROATED DIVER. _Colymbus septentrionalis_ 342
GREAT CRESTED GREBE. _Podiceps cristatus_ 342
Red-necked Grebe. _Podiceps griseigena_ 345
Sclavonian Grebe. _Podiceps auritus_ 345
Eared Grebe. _Podiceps nigrocollis_ 345
LITTLE GREBE. _Tachybaptes fluviatilis_ 344
RAZORBILL. _Alca torda_ 345
COMMON GUILLEMOT. _Lomvia troile_ 347
Brünnich’s Guillemot. _Lomvia bruennichi_ 351
BLACK GUILLEMOT. _Uria grylle_ 350
Little Auk. _Margulus alle_ 351
PUFFIN. _Fratercula arctica_ 351
INDEX 353
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
_COLOURED PLATES._
GOLDEN EAGLE _By A. Thorburn_ _Frontispiece_
BEARDED TITMOUSE „ _To face p._ 89
GOLDFINCH „ „ 126
BITTERN „ „ 224
COMMON TEAL „ „ 244
PTARMIGAN „ „ 270
DOTTEREL „ „ 289
ROSEATE TERN „ „ 320
_PLATES._
FIELDFARES; MISSEL-THRUSH; BLACKBIRD _By G. E. Lodge_ To face p._ 39
ROOKS; JACKDAWS; STARLINGS „ „ 164
LONG-EARED OWL; CHAFFINCH; GREAT, BLUE AND, COAL TITS; GOLDCREST „ „ 196
GANNETS; GUILLEMOTS; HERRING-GULLS „ „ 221
MALLARDS; PEREGRINE FALCON; HERON; COOT „ „ 240
JAY; WOOD-PIGEONS; PHEASANTS „ „ 264
OYSTER-CATCHERS; RINGED PLOVER; LITTLE STINT; CURLEW „ „ 314
BLACK-HEADED GULLS; POCHARDS, SHOVELER; WATER-HENS „ „ 328
_ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT._
FIG. PAGE
1. SKELETON OF WING OF ARCHÆOPTERYX WITH REMIGES ATTACHED. _From ‘Natural Science’_ 4
2, 3. STRUCTURE OF A FEATHER _From ‘Ibis’_ 5
4. PORTION OF TWO ADJACENT BARBS „ 5
5. FOOT OF PELICAN _From Owen’s ‘Anatomy of Vertebrates’_ 10
6. FOOT OF PERCHING BIRD „ 10
7. FOOT OF KINGFISHER „ 10
8. STERNUM OF SHRIKE „ 13
9. WING OF NESTLING OPISTHOCOMUS _From ‘Natural Science’_ 15
10. WING OF YOUNG FOWL OF SAME AGE AS FIG. 9 (OF WING OF OPISTHOCOMUS) „ 16
11. WING OF ADULT OPISTHOCOMUS „ 17
12. WING OF HALF-GROWN OSTRICH „ 17
13. PELVIS AND HIND LIMB OF DIVER _From Owen’s ‘Anatomy of Vertebrates’_ 19
14. GIZZARD OF SWAN „ 21
15. SYRINX OF RAVEN (Posterior Surface) „ 26
16. SYRINX OF RAVEN (Lateral View) „ 26
17. SYRINX OF RAVEN CUT OPEN LONGITUDINALLY „ 26
18. SONG-THRUSH (¼ natural size) _By G. E. Lodge_ 41
19. THROSTLE’S NEST _From Photograph by R. B. Lodge_ 44
20. BLACKBIRD’S NEST „ 48
21. RING-OUZEL (⅕ natural size) _By G. E. Lodge_ 50
22. WHEATEAR (⅓ natural size) „ 52
23. STONECHAT (¼ natural size) „ 56
24. REDSTART (⅓ natural size) „ 57
25. REDBREAST (¼ natural size) „ 59
26. NIGHTINGALE (⅓ natural size) „ 62
27. WHITETHROAT (⅓ natural size) „ 64
28. BLACKCAP (⅓ natural size) „ 67
29. DARTFORD WARBLER (⅓ natural size) „ 71
30. SEDGE-WARBLER (⅓ natural size) „ 80
31. HEDGE-SPARROW (⅓ natural size) „ 84
32. DIPPER (⅕ natural size) „ 86
33. LONG-TAILED TIT (¼ natural size) „ 91
34. GREAT TIT (⅓ natural size) „ 93
35. CRESTED TIT (⅓ natural size) „ 98
36. NUTHATCH (¼ natural size) „ 99
37. WREN (¼ natural size) „ 102
38. PIED WAGTAIL (¼ natural size) „ 104
39. GREY WAGTAIL (⅓ natural size) „ 106
40. TREE-PIPIT (¼ natural size) „ 110
41. ROCK-PIPIT (⅓ natural size) „ 112
42. RED-BACKED SHRIKE (¼ natural size) „ 114
43. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (¼ natural size) „ 117
44. SWALLOW (¼ natural size) „ 119
45. MARTIN (⅓ natural size) „ 121
46. TREE-CREEPER (⅓ natural size) „ 124
47. HAWFINCH (⅓ natural size) „ 130
48. LESSER REDPOLL (⅓ natural size) „ 140
49. BULLFINCH (⅓ natural size) „ 142
50. CROSSBILL (¼ natural size) „ 144
51. YELLOWHAMMER (⅓ natural size) „ 148
52. CIRL BUNTING (⅓ natural size) „ 150
53. REED-BUNTING (¼ natural size) „ 151
54. CHOUGH (⅛ natural size) „ 157
55. MAGPIE (⅑ natural size) „ 161
56. ROOKS AND NEST _From Photograph by R. B. Lodge_ 169
57. RAVEN (¹⁄₁₂ natural size) _By G. E. Lodge_ 172
58. SKYLARK (⅓ natural size) „ 175
59. NIGHTJAR (⅕ natural size) „ 180
60. SPOTTED WOODPECKER (⅕ natural size) „ 182
61. GREEN WOODPECKER (⅙ natural size) „ 184
62. WRYNECK (⅓ natural size) „ 186
63. KINGFISHER (¼ natural size) „ 188
64. HOOPOE „ 190
65. CUCKOO (⅙ natural size) „ 191
66. BARN-OWL (⅐ natural size) „ 194
67. MONTAGU’S HARRIER (⅑ natural size) „ 201
68. BUZZARD (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 202
69. KITE (¹⁄₁₂ natural size) „ 207
70. PEREGRINE (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 209
71. MERLIN (⅛ natural size) „ 211
72. KESTREL (⅑ natural size) „ 212
73. HONEY-BUZZARD (¹⁄₁₂ natural size) „ 217
74. CORMORANT (¹⁄₁₁ natural size) „ 218
75. GREY LAG-GOOSE (¹⁄₁₄ natural size) „ 227
76. BRENT GOOSE (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 231
77. BARNACLE GOOSE (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 232
78. SHELDRAKE (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 235
79. WIGEON (⅐ natural size) „ 237
80. PINTAIL (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 239
81. GADWELL (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 242
82. GARGANEY (¹⁄₁₁ natural size) „ 243
83. TUFTED DUCK (¹⁄₁₁ natural size) „ 246
84. EIDER DUCK (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 251
85. COMMON SCOTER (¹⁄₁₂ natural size) „ 253
86. GOOSANDER (¹⁄₁₂ natural size) „ 255
87. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (¹⁄₁₁ natural size) „ 257
88. ROCK-DOVE (⅐ natural size) „ 262
89. TURTLE-DOVE (⅙ natural size) „ 263
90. RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE (⅐ natural size) „ 266
91. PARTRIDGE (⅙ natural size) „ 267
92. QUAIL (⅕ natural size) „ 269
93. BLACKCOCK (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 274
94. CAPERCAILLIE (¹⁄₁₂ natural size) „ 275
95. LANDRAIL (⅐ natural size) _By G. E. Lodge_ 278
96. STONE-CURLEW (⅐ natural size) „ 282
97. GOLDEN PLOVER (summer plumage) (⅙ natural size) „ 285
98. LAPWING (⅙ natural size) „ 290
99. TURNSTONE (⅕ natural size) „ 292
100. GREY PHALAROPE (¼ natural size) „ 295
101. WOODCOCK (⅙ natural size) „ 296
102. DUNLIN (summer plumage) (¼ natural size) „ 301
103. KNOT (¼ natural size) „ 305
104. RUFF AND REEVE (⅐ natural size) „ 306
105. SANDERLING (winter plumage) (¼ natural size) „ 308
106. GREENSHANK (⅙ natural size) „ 312
107. COMMON TERN (⅐ natural size) „ 319
108. LESSER TERN (¼ natural size) „ 321
109. BLACK TERN (⅐ natural size) „ 323
110. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (¹⁄₁₁ natural size) „ 327
111. GREAT SKUA (¹⁄₁₂ natural size) „ 330
112. STORMY PETREL (⅓ natural size) „ 334
113. MANX SHEARWATER (⅛ natural size) „ 336
114. FULMAR (⅑ natural size) „ 338
115. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (⅑ natural size) „ 340
116. GREAT CRESTED GREBE (¹⁄₁₀ natural size) „ 342
117. LITTLE GREBE (⅙ natural size) „ 344
118. RAZORBILL (winter plumage) (¹⁄₁₁ natural size) „ 346
119. LITTLE AUK (⅛ natural size) „ 350
120. PUFFIN (⅑ natural size) „ 351
INTRODUCTION.
The plan followed in the descriptive portion of this work has, I trust, the merit of simplicity. A brief account is given of the appearance, language, and life-habits of all the species that reside permanently, or for a portion of each year, within the limits of the British Islands. The accidental stragglers, with the irregular or occasional visitors, have been included, but not described, in the work. To have omitted all mention of them would, perhaps, have been to carry the process of simplification too far. And as much may be said of the retention in this book of Latin, or ‘science’ names. The mass of technical matter with which ornithological works are usually weighted is scarcely wanted in a book intended for the general reader, more especially for the young. Nor was there space sufficient to make the work at the same time a technical and a popular one: the briefest description that could possibly be given of the characters of genera would have occupied thirty to forty pages. The student must, in any case, go to the large standard works on the subject, especially to those of Yarrell (fourth edition), Seebohm, and Howard Saunders, which are repositories of all the most important facts relating to our bird life, gathered from the time of Willughby, the father of British ornithology, down to the present.
The order in which I have placed the species, beginning with the thrushes and ending with the auks, is that of Sclater, based on Huxley’s classification, and is the arrangement adopted in the official list of the British Ornithologists’ Union (1883). The B.O.U. list enumerates 376 species; and of this number 211 species are counted as residents and regular visitants; the remaining 165 being loosely described as ‘Occasional Visitants.’ About these aliens, which are claimed as citizens, something requires to be said.
It has long been the practice of our ornithologists to regard as ‘British’ any species of which one specimen has been found in a wild state within the limits of the United Kingdom. As a result of this excessive hospitality we find in the list about forty-three species of which not more than three specimens have been obtained; in a majority of cases only one. We also find that there are not fewer than forty-five exclusively American species in the list; but by what means, or by what series of extraordinary accidents, these lost wanderers have been carried thousands of miles from their own region, across the Atlantic, and have succeeded in reaching our shores alive, it is impossible to imagine. It is highly probable that some of the American, Asiatic, and European waifs that have been picked up in these islands were birds that had escaped from confinement; but whether brought by man or borne on the wings of the tempest to our shores, the fact remains that they are not members of our avifauna, and the young reader should clearly understand that only by a pleasing fiction are they called ‘British.’
I have spoken at some length on this subject, because it is one that appears to interest a great many persons who are not ornithologists. How many British species are there? is a question that is continually being asked of those who are supposed to know. I should say that, in round numbers, there are 200; at the very outside, 210. Seebohm, in the introduction to his great work, gives 222 as the number of species ‘fairly entitled to be considered British birds’; but he probably counted some that are usually regarded as irregular visitors, and perhaps others which have been exterminated in recent times. Of the 165 species set down in the ‘British’ list as occasional visitors, about 55 or 60 deserve that description, since they do, as a fact, visit the British Islands at irregular intervals. All the others are accidental stragglers.
It only remains to add something on another subject--the little life-histories of the two hundred and odd species described in this volume. Although this is in no sense a controversial subject, the apologetic tone must be still used. I wish that these sketches had been better done, but I do not greatly regret that they had to be brief. The longest history of a bird ever written, the most abounding in facts and delightful to read, when tested in the only sure way--namely, by close observation of its subject--is found to be scarcely more complete or satisfactory than the briefest, which contains only the main facts. This is because birds are not automata, but intelligent beings. Seebohm has well said, ‘The real history of a bird is its _life_-history. The deepest interest attaches to everything that reveals the little mind, however feebly it may be developed, which lies behind the feathers.’ It has been remarked more than once that we do not rightly appreciate birds because we do not see them well. In most cases persecution has made them fearful of the human form; they fly from us, and distance obscures their delicate harmonious colouring and blurs the exquisite aërial lines on which they are formed. When we look closely at them, we are surprised at their beauty and the indescribable grace of their varied motions. An analogous effect is produced by a close observation of their habits or actions, which, seen from afar, may appear few and monotonous. Canon Atkinson, in his ‘Sketches in Natural History’ (1865), has a chapter about the partridge, prefaced by Yarrell’s remark, that of a bird so universally known there was little that was new to be said. While admitting the general truth of this statement, the author goes on to say: ‘Still, I have from time to time observed some slight peculiarity in the habits of the partridge that I have not seen noticed in any professed description of the bird, forming certain passages, as it were, of its minute history. It is precisely this ‘minute history’ that gives so great and enduring a fascination to the study of birds in a state of nature. But it cannot be written, on account of the infinity of ‘passages’ contained in it, or, in other words, of that element of mind which gives it endless variety.