51IIDS OF THE BRITISH ISbES Drawn and Described By JOHN DUNCAN ^^r^' FORTHE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FORSCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 5^ n^""' M BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. J ^ GREAT AUK. — P. 39 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES DRAWN AND DESCRIBED BY JOHN DUNCAN WITH AN INTRODUCTION BV CHARLES DIXON (Repj-intcd from the '''' Neiv castle Weekly Chronicle''') WALTER SCOTT, LIMITED LONDON: PATERNOSTER SQUARE AND NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE 1898 THE SCOTT PRESS, FELLING, MEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. THIS LOOK IS DEDICATED TO CHARLES DIXON, THE WELL-KNOWN NATURALIST, AS A MARK OF RESPECT, r.Y THE AUTHOR. PREFACE The drawings of British Birds which appear in this work were originally published in the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, extending over a period of nearly ten years. Numerous correspondents of that paper expressed the wish that, when the series was com- pleted, the drawings, with descriptions of the birds, should be published in book form. It is mainly in response to repeated suggestions of this kind that the present work is offered to the public. The birds were drawn with the view of giving students of nature a strictly accurate representation of each specimen, with as much detail as was con- sidered necessary for identification. Although every endeavour has been made to indicate the various markings of the feathers, bill, feet, etc., I venture to think that in no instance have I sacrificed artistic completeness for mere elaboration. The classification is based on a simple plan, and I hope that the general reader will appreciate the system adopted. The explanatory notes that accom- pany each drawing are brief, but nothing material X PREFACE. has been omitted. In the great majority of cases the drawing and colouration of the adult male bird in summer plumage is given ; but in many instances the adult female and young are also described. The Appendix contains the names of birds which are said to have occurred in a wild state in the British Isles, but the claims of which to be included in the British List are doubtful. At various times during the last ten years I have received generous help from Mr. Richard Howse, M.A. (Curator), Mr. Joseph Wright, many members of the Committee, and the other officials connected with the Natural History Museum, New- castle-on-Tyne. Mr. John Jackson, taxidermist, Newcastle-on-Tyne, has provided numerous and various specimens for me to draw from, and the members of the Ewen family, late of St. Mary's Island, Northumberland, have also rendered valu- able assistance in many ways. I am further deeply indebted to Mr. Henry Hunter, Old Hartley, North- umberland ; Mr. William Scott, Tynemouth ; the brothers Pow, Whitley; Mr. Amos Winship, Beal ; Mr. Edward Fenwick Wilson, Monk House, Tyne- mouth ; Mr. Robert Wilson, Jun., Whitley; Mr. T. W. Duncan, Monkseaton ; Mr. John Fenwick Wilson, Marden, Cullercoats ; Mr. Emmanuel Fen- wick Wilson, Lough House, Morpeth ; Mr. John Avery, Christon Bank ; Mr. J. W. Turnbull, Cor- bridge ; Mr. Alexander Martin, Broomhouse Lodge, PREFACE. xi Beal; Mr. E. O. Reid, Newcastle; Mr. Thomas Lambert, Cullercoats ; and numerous others, in- cluding landowners, farmers, gamekeepers, etc., for kindly assistance during a number of years past. Mr. Charles Xavier Sykes, journalist, Newcastle, has also aided me in preparing the matter for the printers. But special thanks are due to the pro- prietor of the Weekly Chronicle (Mr. Joseph Cowen), and in a minor degree to the editor of that journal (Mr. W. E. Adams), without whose cordial coun- tenance and aid this work could not have been produced. During the compilation of the descriptive notes, I have had occasion to make extracts from volumes written by the following admitted authorities in the ornithological world: — Charles Dixon; the late Henry Seebohm ; James Backhouse, Jun., F.Z.S.; Howard Saunders, F.L.S. ; R. Bovvdler Sharp, LL.D. ; H. Kirke Swann ; Richard Lydekker, B.A.; Dr. P. M. Duncan, F.R.S.; the late Herr Gatkc ; the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, M.A.; and others. Lastly, I must acknowledge my great indebtedness to Mr. Charles Dixon, author of The Migration of Birds, etc., etc., who, in addition to aiding me in many ways, has revised all the proof-sheets of this work. JOHN DUNCAN. MONKSKATON, NORTH UMRERLAXD, AtlS^USt 1 898. INTRODUCTION ♦-♦-^ Although the present volume requires little in the way of introducing it to an artistic and bird-loving public, I have been invited to say a few words in launching it upon what I hope will prove to be a sustained and a successful career. The books on British birds are legion ; and one feels that to this fact is due the ever- increasing interest which our feathered friends and neighbours excite. It may be that many of these volumes savour too strongly of the plagiarist, the amateur, and the sciolist, to be of value (for every one must rush into print nowadays), or to advance the study of ornithology in any way, being merely tributes to the vanity of their authors, and published as such ; yet, on the other hand, a welcome number contain a vast mass of novel and interesting material ; they are records, too, of personal experience and observation, and therefore destined to retain a more or less permanent position in the literature of Birds. Just a century ago, British naturalists and the British public were captivated by the first volume xiv INTRODUCTION. of Bewick's classic History of British Birds — a work, completed by the issue of the second volume seven years later, that gave more or less accurate pictures of all the species, and one that has re- tained a high place in the affections of ornithologists and artistic people generally down to the present time. To a certain extent, Mr. Duncan's volume very closely resembles the books of the immortal engraver on wood ; and in some respects, as those who have the pleasure of inspecting his remarkable series of drawings will find for themselves, it is superior. The present book, so far as British birds are concerned, is practically unique. For the first time, an up-to-date manual, containing an accurate and artistic picture of every species, is placed within the reach of the multitude by reason of its very modest price. Hitherto, so far as we can recall, the cheapest with which it can be compared is published at four times the cost. Mr. Duncan's book must not be criticised from a literary point of view, its claims in that direction purposely being exceptionally small. Neither must the systematlst judge it by his varying standards. It appeals to us, like Bewick's, solely through the merits of its remarkably accurate and life- like drawings of British birds — a set of pictures that we feel sure will prove of great service to any person anxious to become familiar with and able to name at a glance the four hundred or so species that are up to the present time included as British ; whilst the con- INTRODUCTION. xv cise description of the rarer species especially should enable the fortunate possessor of the volume to identify any rare or strange fowl that may come in his way. From his childhood, Mr. Duncan has always taken great interest in bird-life ; and this seems only natural, for he is the son of Robert Duncan, the Newcastle taxidermist, and was consequently brought up in an ornithological atmosphere, and in a house where the family talk was almost invariably about birds. At the age of fourteen John Duncan was apprenticed to William Wailes, the well-know^n eccle- siastical glass painter, with whom, and with Messrs. Wailes & Strang, he has worked for nearly forty years. During the early portion of that time John Duncan studied drawing under William Bell Scott, almost as famous as a poet as an artist. John Duncan became skilled in the art of painting on glass, and many noble church windows, both in the United Kingdom and in America, remain lasting monuments to his talent in this direction. During these years John Duncan was devoting all his spare time to the study of birds, frequently accompan}- ing his father on his ornithological excursions, and gradually acquiring that knowledge which we feel must have stood him in good stead during his work upon the present volume. Whilst in his teens, young Duncan made many drawings of birds in oil and in water-colours, and from that time to the present his xvi INTRODUCTION. pencil has been seldom idle. Duncan also made his mark as a lithographic artist and cartoonist. For many years, we believe, he has rendered assist- ance to the authorities of the Hancock Natural History Museum, Newcastle, and the grand avine collections housed therein are indebted to him for many rare specimens. Some ten years ago John Duncan commenced in the Nezvcastle Weekly Chronicle a series of pen-and-ink sketches of the birds of the British Isles, and every week during the whole of that lengthened period the paper has contained some fresh example of his art. The series now forms the present volume ; and we feel sure that not only will subscribers and others familiar with the birds as they then appeared, be glad to possess these drawings in a lasting and more con- venient form, printed under the more favourable conditions pertaining to book production, than the hurry of the newspaper press, which can wait for no man, but that in this form they will prove a more worthy and lasting monument to the industry and skill of their talented author. CHARLES DIXON. Paignton, S. Devon, October i8q8. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES IRaven. The Raven {Corvns corax, Linnosus) is a resident species in the British Islands, although it is from various causes a diminishing species. It is also met with throughout the Palearctic Region. The adult has the entire plumage black, upper parts glossed with purple and blue ; tail, nearly rounded ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about twenty-five or twenty-six inches. The young raven is duller in colouration than the mature bird. T BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Carrion Crow* The Carrion Crow {Corvus corone, Temminck) is a resident and fairly well distributed species in the British Isles. It is said also to occur in most parts of the Western Palearctic Region, extending its range into India and also China. The adult has the whole of the plumage black, the upper parts glossed with purple ; head, neck, and throat, tinged with green; the nostrils have a covering of bristly feathers ; legs and feet, black ; irides, brown. Length, from seventeen to nineteen inches. The young are similar in colouration to the adult, but the gloss on the feathers is absent. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1booJ)c5 Crow, The Hooded Crow (Corviis comix, Linnaeus) breeds locally in the British Islands, but is a regular winter visitant to them. It is also found in Central and South-Eastern Europe, as well as North-East Africa and Western Asia. The adult has the head, throat, wings, and tail, iridescent black ; remainder of plumage, ashy-grey ; the feathers on the breast have a few dark streaks ; bill, legs, and feet, black; irides, brown. Length, from seventeen to nineteen inches. The young have the head dull black, and lack the gloss of the mature bird ; grey portions of plumage, duller ; hind neck, dusky. This species sometimes inter- breeds with the carrion crow in Scotland. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. TRoOk. The Rook {Corvus fnigilegus, Linnaeus) is a widely distri- buted resident in the British Isles in localities that provide suitable trees for nesting purposes, and in districts where a plentiful supply of food can be obtained. It is also generally distributed in most parts of the Western Pale- arctic Region, ranging eastward into India. The adult rook is easily distinguished by the purplish-black plumage and bare grey face; bill and legs, black; irides, brown. Length, from seventeen to twenty inches. The young are duller in colouration, and the region round the base of the bill is feathered. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 3acUt)aw. The Jackdaw {Corvits nionedula^ Linnaeus) is not only one of the commonest resident species of the family Corvidce, but is also one of the most widely distributed in the l]ritish Islands. It is also met with over most parts of Northern and Central Europe, but is less so in Southern Europe. It also occurs in Northern Africa. The adult has the upper plumage glossy black, with the exception of the hinder crown, neck, and sides of head, which are silvery grey; under parts, dusky black; bill, legs, and feet, black; irides, white. Length, between twelve and fourteen inches. The young are dull black in plumage, showing very little grey on the head or nape. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common Cbougb- -^•>=J. W^^.^^^.^^.^' The Common Chough {Fyrrhocorax graculus, Linnaeus) is a resident species with us, being found locally round the British coasts as far northwards as Skye. It is also found inhabiting certain portions of the Palearctic Region. The adult has the entire plumage glossy black, with bluish reflections ; primaries and tail, slightly tinged with green and violet ; bill, long and recurved, and of a scarlet colour ; legs and feet, same; irides, hazel brown. Length, from fifteen to sixteen inches. The young are duller and less glossy in plumage ; legs and feet, orange, but by autumn the colouration of the latter has assumed that of the adult. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Contmou 3^?* The Common Jay {Garrnlus <:;landarius, Linnceus), which is a resident species in the British Isles, is also met with throughout most parts of Europe, with the exception of the extreme North. As the common jay cannot very well be mistaken for any other British bird, a detailed description is not necessary. The general colouration of the plumage is vinaceous brown, with white on the rump and tail- coverts; crest, streaked with black; moustachial lines, also black; tail, brownish-black; wings, black, chestnut, and white ; wing-coverts, barred with white, blue, and black ; legs and feet, light brown ; bill, blackish ; irides, very light blue. Length, from thirteen to fourteen inches. The young are similar in colouration to the adults, but the irides are brown. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. fIDaQpic. The Magpie {Pica caudata, Gerini) is another resident species in the British Isles. It also inhabits most of the Western Palearctic Region. The adult magpie cannot well be confounded with any other of our birds of the British Isles. The adult is of a beautiful black colour on head, neck, back and breast, with reflections of violet and green ; scapulars and abdomen, white ; tail, long and iridescent with greenish-bronze, and, towards tip, purplish, shading into black ; bill, legs, and feet, black ; irides, dark brown. Length, from sixteen to eighteen inches. The young are similar in colouration, but the glossy sheen is scarcely per- ceptible. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Il^utcrachcr. The Nutcracker {JVnci/raga caryocafactes, Linnccus) is a rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands, nesting in the mountainous regions of Europe as far to the south as the Pyrenees, and occurring as far eastward as Japan. The adult male has the head dark brown ; back, brown, each feather having a white triangular spot ; outer rectrices, tipped with white ; basal half, black ; central quills with a conspicuous patch of white near the base of inner web : upper tail-coverts, brown ; under parts, dark brown, with white spots on breast and belly ; iridcs, dark brown ; l)ill, legs, and feet, blackish. Length, about twelve inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Starling. ^•-- John VuNce^r/- The Starling {Siicrmis milgai'is^ Linnaeus) is a resident and widely distributed species throughout the British Islands. It also occurs in summer throughout the whole of Europe, but it is only seen during winter in the countries of the Mediterranean, and ranges eastward as far as Egypt and Persia. The adult male in summer has the whole plumage black, with green, purple, and blue reflections ; greater portion of feathers of upper parts, tipped with cream colour; wings and tail-feathers, blackish, margined with buffish ; bill, yellow ; legs and feet, brownish-red ; irides, hazel. Length, from seven to eight inches. The adult female is duller in colour but is more profusely spotted. The young are ashy-brown, with pale reddish-brown margins to the wins;s and tail-feathers. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1Ro6C:*coIourcD Starlincj. II The Rose-coloured Starling {Pas for rostits, Linnceus) is an irregular visitor to this country, occurring mostly in autumn. It is found nesting in Southern Europe, and is met with occasionally on migration in most parts of Central and Northern Europe. In winter it is found in India, but is of rare occurrence in Africa. The adult male in breeding attire has a crest on the head; neck, cheeks, nape, and upper part of breast, deep black, with purple reflections ; wings and rectrices, black, with greenish reflections ; flanks and under tail-coverts, black ; back, breast, and belly, deli- cate rose-colour ; irides, brown ; bill, rose-colour, darker at base; legs and feet, brown. Length, about eight inches. The female is duller in colour. The young have the cheeks, chin, and upper part of throat, white ; wings and tail, brown ; under parts, very [)ale brown : mottled on flanks with darker brown. 12 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (5ol&cn ©riole. The Golden Oriole {Oriolus galbtihi, Linngeus) is a rare summer visitor to the southern portion of England. It also occurs during the nesting season throughout Central and Southern Europe, as well as Persia and Turkestan, and spends the winter in Africa. The adult male has the upper and under parts a rich golden yellow ; lores and wings, black, with a yellow alar bar ; secondaries, edged towards the tips with yellowish-white; tail, black, tipped with yellow more broadly on the outermost feathers ; bill, dull red ; feet, leaden grey ; irides, red. Length, about nine inches. The adult female and young resemble the male in colouration, but are greyish-white below, with streaks of blackish on the throat and breast. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 13 Common Crosebill. The Common Crossbill {Loxia ciirvirostm, Linni\ius) is an uncertain winter visitor to the British Isles, although some remain with us. It is also found in summer in most parts of Europe and Northern Asia. The general colour above of the adult male is dull crimson, becoming brighter on the rump and chest ; wings and tail, brown, with pale margins to wing-coverts ; vent, white ; irides, hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, dark brown. Length, about six inches. The adult female is mostly greyish-brown, tinged on the upper parts and breast with greenish-orange ; rump, brighter. The young are dull in colouration similar to the adult female^ but are streaked on the upper and under parts. u BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. amcrican Mbite^w)ingc& Croeebill The American White-winged Crossbill {Loxia kucoptera, Gmelin) is a rare nomadic autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is also found in Northern North America, from Alaska to Labrador and Newfoundland. This crossbill is said to have a more slender bill than the European white- winged crossbill. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 15 European MbitC:*wingc& CroeebilL The European White-winged Crossbill {Loxia bifasciata^ Brehm), which inhabits Northern Russia as well as Siberia, is a rare wandering migrant to the British Isles during autumn and winter. The adult male of this crossbill is said to be distinguished from the common crossbill by the white bands on the wings. Length, about six inches. i6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. paiTOt Cro69bilL The Parrot Crossbill i^Loxia pityopsiiacus) has occurred at various times in the British Isles, and is found inhabiting Scandinavia and Northern Russia. This crossbill is now considered to be merely a race of the common crossbill. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 17 pine (Broebeah* The Pine Grosbeak (Zoxia enucleator, Linnceus) is an ex- tremely rare winter migrant to the British Isles. It is a resident in the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male has the general colouration of the plumage dull slate-grey ; wings, dark brown, with rosy margins to the feathers, getting broader on inner secondaries; lores, black; remainder of head, crimson ; rump and upper tail-coverts, mostly red ; rectrices, black tinged with grey, and margined with paler; under parts, crimson, shading into ashy-white on lower belly and under tail-coverts ; irides, bill, legs, and feet, dark brown. Length, about eight inches. The female shows no crimson colour. i8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Scarlet IRose ^incb. The Scarlet Rose Finch {^Carpodacus erythrimis^ Linnseus) is an extremely rare visitor to the British Islands. It in- habits the Palearctic Region, and is found westward in Europe to Finland and Poland. In Western Europe it is a mere straggler. The adult male has the back brown, washed with rose ; wings and rectrices, pale brown, mar- gined faintly with crimson; rump, crimson; under parts below breast, white, shading into creamy white on under tail-coverts ; crown of head, chin, throat, and breast, crimson, the crown being the darkest ; irides, legs, and feet, brown ; bill, brown tinged with yellow. Length, about five inches. The adult female is, above, mostly olive-brown ; wings and rectrices, dark brown ; innermost secondaries margined with whitish, and coverts tipped with whitish; fore-neck and breast, huffish, with streaks of dusky; belly, white. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Ibawfincb. The Hawfinch {^Coccothraustes vulgaris^ Pallas) is a fairly common resident in certain localities in the British Islands. It is also met with throughout the greater part of the Palearctic Region. The adult male hawfinch in summer plumage can readily be identified by its bulky head, strong bill, and the secondary feathers being notched. The general plumage is brown, above ; wings and tail, black and white ; under parts, yellowish-brown ; bill, leaden blue, dull black at tip ; legs and feet, pale fleshy-brown ; irides, greyish- white. Length, about seven inches. The adult female is similar in colouration, but duller. 20 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Bullfincb. "iunn-nrj The Bullfinch {Pyrrhtda vulgaris, Temminck) is a resident species in the British Isles, being also met with in Europe west of Central Russia and south of Scandinavia. Examples occasionally occur in the southernmost countries of Europe. The adult male has the crown of the head, base of bill, and throat, velvety blue-black ; nape and mantle, smoke-grey ; larger wing-coverts have whitish tips, thereby producing a transverse bar; wings and tail, bluish-black; rump, white; under tail-coverts, white; rest of under parts, dull ver- milion ; bill, black ; legs and irides, dark brown. Length, about six inches. The female on the upper parts is brownish- grey ; underneath, warmish brown. The young have no black on the head, and the wing bar is buffish-white. (Breater Bullfincb. The Greater Bullfinch [Fyrrhu/a majoi-, C. L. Brehm) is a rare visitor to the British Isles, nesting in Scandinavia and North-Eastern Europe generally, and occurring during BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 21 winter in South-Eastern Europe. The adult male closely resembles Pyrrhula vulgaris^ but in some examples the colours are more brilliant; it is also larger in size. lbou6C Sparrow), The House Sparrow (Passer douiesiicus, Linnreus) is a well- known resident and generally distributed species throughout the British Isles, and also over the whole of the Palearctic Region. The adult male in summer has the top of the head and rump slaty-grey; chin, throat, breast, and lores, black ; above the eyes, a thin white streak ; mantle, ruddy brown, with dark centres to the feathers ; wings and tail, dark brown, margined with paler brown ; white tips to lesser wing-coverts ; cheeks, ashy ; under parts, greyish- white ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brownish ; i rides, brown. Length, about six inches. In the adult female the black on the throat and breast are absent. 22 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Zvcc Sparrow. The Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus^ Linnseus) is a generally distributed, but local, species in the British Isles. It is also found throughout most parts of the Palearctic Region, and in the Indian Region, reaching as far southwards as Java. The adult male in breeding plumage has the crown and nape chocolate-brown ; throat and fore-neck, black ; lores, and a streak behind eyes, black; ear-coverts, ashy-white, with a black patch on the lower parts ; sides of neck, white ; upper parts and tail closely resemble the house sparrow, with the exception that the median and greater wing-coverts have white tips, which form two bars ; under parts, ashy ; bill, black ; legs, pale brown ; irides, brown. Length, about five inches. The adult female is similar to the male in colouration. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 23 Cbaffincb* ^^MlsiiiMim^ The Chaffinch i^Fringilla ca^Iebs, Linnaeus), which is a resident species in the British Isles, is also found in most parts of Europe, but is rarely met with in North-Western Africa. The adult male in summer has the forehead black ; crown and nape, slaty-grey ; back, reddish-brown ; rump, sap-green ; scapulars, grey, tipped with brownish ; cjuills, dusky, with narrow margins of white ; lesser and median wing-coverts, white ; greater coverts, blackish, with broad white tips ; central tail-feathers, grey ; remainder, dark brown ; two outermost rectrices on either side, white on the inner margins ; sides of head, and lower part of plumage, reddish-brown, shading into white on abdomen ; bill, dusky ; irides, hazel ; legs, dull brown. Length, about six inches. The female's head and back are olive-brown ; cheeks, throat, and breast, pale yellowish-grc-y. 24 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Brambling, The Brambling {Fringilla moniifriiigilla^ Linnaeus) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and is also found throughout most of the Palearctic Region, nesting in the Far North. The adult male in nuptial plumage has the general colour above, also sides of neck, ear-coverts, and cheeks, glossy black ; lesser wing-coverts, orange-chestnut ; median coverts, white ; greater coverts, with white tips ; rump, white ; a white speculum on the wing ; tail, black ; outermost feathers, partly white ; chin and throat, ochreous ; remainder of under parts, ochreous, tinged with red, gradually turning into whitish on belly and under tail-coverts ; sides, spotted with black ; irides, dark brown; bill, black; legs and feet, brown. Length, from five to six inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. •^0 (Brccnfincb. The Greenfinch {Fringilla ck/oris, Linnnsus) is a resident species in the British Islands. It also occurs in most parts of Europe (with the exception of the Spanish Peninsula) north to southern Scandinavia, as well as in Turkestan. The adult male in summer has the forehead greenish- yellow ; lores, dusky black ; a bright yellow stripe over each eye ; cheeks, and under parts of body, bright yellow, washed slightly with ashy; crown, neck, and back, olive-green; feathers margined with greyish ; rump, yellowish ; wings, deep brown, with dull grey tips ; primaries, edged with bright yellow at their bases ; tail, dark brown, central feathers margined with grey ; remainder with entirely yellow bases ; flanks, greyish ; bill, light flesh colour ; irides, hazel. Length, about five inches. The adult female is much duller in colouration than the male. 26 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Bolbfincb, The Goldfinch {Fri/igilla carduelis^ Linnaeus) is a gener- ally distributed species in the British Islands. It is also a resident throughout most parts of Europe, with the exception of the extreme north. In Northern Africa and eastward into Persia it is also a resident. The adult male has the forehead and upper throat crimson ; crown of the head and a band behind the ear-coverts, black ; cheeks and lower throat, white ; upper parts, pale chocolate-brown ; greater wing-coverts, brilliant golden yellow ; primaries, black with white tips ; base of primaries, banded with bright yellow; tail, black, tipped with white; outer tail-feathers subterminally having white blotches ; underneath, white ; sides of breast and flanks, tinged with wood-brown ; bill, pale brown, tip darker; irides, legs, and feet, brown. Length, about five inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 27 Si9hin. The Siskin {Fringi//a spimis^ Linnaeus) is generally considered a winter visitor to the British Isles, although instances are recorded of its having nested in most of our English counties. It also frequents the temperate parts of the Palearctic Region. The adult male has the crown and throat black ; back, dullish-green, with streaks of dark brown ; rump, yellow ; cheeks and ear-coverts, olive-green ; wings, blackish, with yellow bars and pale yellowish margins ; tail-feathers, blackish, yellow at base with the exception of centre ones ; under parts, yellow, shading into white on abdomen ; flanks, yellowish, with dusky streaks of black ; irides, brown ; bill, dusky ; feet, light brown. Length, about four inches. The adult female has the crown streaked with dusky brown ; wings, rump, and tail show very little yellow ; under parts, yellowish-white, with dusky streaks. 28 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Serin finch. '^/^9 The Serin Finch {Serifiiis horfu/anus, Koch) is a rare abnormal sprmg and autumn migrant to the British Islands. It is a resident in most parts of Central and Southern Europe. In Asia Minor it is plentiful, and it is also met with in Palestine. The adult male in summer has the general colour above, greenish-olive, with streaks of dark brown ; forehead and cheeks, yellow, tinged on the latter with green ; wings and rectrices, dusky, margined with pale yellowish ; throat, breast, and rump, bright yellow ; middle of abdomen, white ; flanks, streaked with dark brown ; irides, dark brown ; bill, dark brown ; legs and feet, brown. Length, about four inches. The adult female is duller in colouration, and shows less yellow. The young resemble the adult female, but the yellow is absent. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 29 Canary, The Canary {Seri?tjes Jiortulanus canai'ius^ Linnaeus) is an accidental spring and autumn visitor to the British Islands, and a resident in the Canary Islands, jNIadeira, and the Azores. The adult male wild canary has, it is said, "the crown, yellowish-green, narrowly streaked with blackish-brown ; back, and upper tail-coverts, blackish- brown, margined broadly with grey, and marked with olive- green ; forehead and rump, bright yellowish-green ; wing- coverts, blackish-brown, tipped and margined with olive- grt-cn. The whole of the under parts are golden yellow, shading into almost white on the under tail-coverts ; the flanks arc striped with blackish-brown ; bill, light brown ; legs, feet, and claws, fleshy brown ; irides, hazel." The adult female is described as being duller in colour, and shows less yellow. 30 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Xinnct Jo ha/ I]unc/>i //. The Linnet {Linota cannahiiia, Linnaeus) is a generally distributed species in the British Isles, but becomes scarcer in some parts of Scotland, and is said not to occur in the Shetlands. It is also a resident over most parts of the Western Palearctic Region, with the exception of the extreme north. The adult male in summer plumage is, above, reddish-brown, streaked with black ; forehead and centre of crown, crimson ; breast, crimson ; ear-coverts, ashy-grey ; primaries and tail, blackish, margined with white ; throat, dusky ; breast, crimson ; abdomen, dull white ; flanks, fawn-brown ; bill, legs, and feet, brown ; irides, brown. Length, about five inches. The adult female closely resembles the male, but the red on crown and breast is wanting. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Zmtc, The Twite (Li/io/a fiavirostris^ Linnceus) is a resident in the British Islands, but is stated to be only a winter visitant to the south. It nests in Norway, and is also met with on migration in most parts of Europe. The coloura- tion of the plumage of the adult male in summer is, above, dark brown, marked with tawny-brown ; sides of head and also body, marked with brown ; rump, rose red ; quills, dusky, a few primaries having narrow white margins, and secondaries tawny margins ; tail-feathers, dusky, with white margins to the outer ones ; chin and throat, unspotted tawny-buff; sides of head and body, marked with brown ; abdomen, white ; bill, yellowish, tip darker ; irides, brown ; legs and feet, brown. Length, about five inches. The female is distinguishable by having no red on rump. 32 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. %C5BCV IRebpoIc- The Lesser Redpole {Linota riifescens, Vieillot) is a common species in the British Isles during winter, but is locally distributed in summer. It is also found in the more northern portions of both hemispheres, nesting mostly in regions where birch trees abound, and in winter straying southward. The adult male in spring plumage has the throat and lores black; crown and forehead, deep crimson; upper parts, dark warm brown ; rump, pink ; wing bands, rufous buff; breast, carmine red; remainder of plumage closely resembles that of the mealy redpole {Linota lina7'id) ; irides, brown ; bill, brownish horn colour ; base beneath, yellowish ; legs, dark brown. Length, about four inches. The female, as a rule, has no red on the rump or breast. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. fIDcalP 1Re&poIc\ The Mealy Redpole {Linofa linaria, Linnaeus) is an autumn migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the more northern portions of both hemispheres, and nests principally in the birch region, and in winter moves south- ward. The adult male in summer has the nape, back, and scapulars dark brown, with whitish margins to some of the feathers ; primaries, dusky ; innermost secondaries, greater and middle wing-coverts, with whitish tips ; rump, white, tinged with pink and streaked with brown ; rectrices, dusky, with narrow margins of whitish ; crown of head, crimson ; chin, black ; breast, suffused with carmine ; middle of abdomen, whitish ; sides, streaked with dark brown ; irides, brown ; bill, yellowish-brown ; legs and feet, brown. Length, five inches. The adult female in summer shows no red on the breast or rump. In winter, upper parts of the adult arc lighter and the feathers show no red on the breast. 34 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Brccnlanb IRebpolc. The Greenland Redpole {Li?tofa linaria Hornemanni, Holboell) is an extremely rare abnormal winter visitor to this comitry, and so far only one example has been pro- cured. It is met with in Greenland and Eastern North America. This redpole can readily be distinguished from its congeners by the excessive whiteness of the plumage. Couee' IRcbpole. CouEs' Redpole {Linota exilipes, Coues) is an exceedingly rare abnormal visitor to the British Isles. Ibolbocire IRcbpole. Holboell's Redpole {Liftota Holboelli^ Brehm) is a rare abnormal migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits North Europe from Scandinavia to Eastern Siberia. This redpole is described as being similar to the mealy redpole, " but larger in size, and having a very much larger bill." BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 35 Snow) Bunting^ • ^^^,N^i«i^ '''//^^.AV^^^.K^ 7o//^"l?^/vc^^. The Snow Banting {Flecfrophenax nivalis^ Linnaeus) is mainly a winter visitor to the British Isles, but instances are recorded of its having nested on some of the Scottish mountains. It is a summer visitant to the Arctic Regions, and migrates southwards in the autumn through most of the northern countries in Europe, Asia, and North America. The adult male in summer has the head, neck, upper wing- coverts, secondaries, and under parts, white ; back and scapulars, black, the back on lower part usually mottled with white ; primaries and tertiaries, black ; six central tail- feathers, black ; remainder, white ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about six inches. 36 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Xaplanb Buntlno. The Lapland Bunting {Calcarius lapponicus^ Linnaeus) is a rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Isles. It nests throughout the Circumpolar Regions north of the Arctic Circle, and in autumn migrates through Central Europe and Asia. The adult male in summer has the head, throat, and upper breast black, with the exception of a whitish streak, which commences behind the eye and passes at the back of the auriculars, thus forming a patch of white on the sides of the neck ; a collar of bright chestnut reaches from the occiput on to the upper back; remainder of upper parts, wing-coverts, innermost secondaries, and middle rec- trices, brownish-black margined wdth buff and white ; primaries, with pale margins ; under surface of body, pale bufifish, striped on flanks with black ; irides, brown ; bill, yellow; tip, black; legs and feet, black. Length, about six inches. The adult female lacks the black head and rufous collar. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRceb Bunting, 37 .^^ The Reed Bunting {Eniberiza schcEiiicIus^ Linnaeus) is a resident species in the British Islands, and also in suitable localities throughout the Palearctic Region. The adult male is rufous colour above, with black streaks and pale margins to the feathers ; head and throat, deep black ; a white moustachial line runs from the base of the bill and joins the collar, which, like the breast, is white ; lower back and rump, pale grey, with black streaks ; scapulars and lesser wing-coverts, warm reddish-brown, with dark centres on the former ; tail, dark brown, two outer pairs of rectrices having oblique white patches ; flanks, streaked with dusky brown ; irides, brown ; bill, brown above, paler below ; legs and feet, brown. Length, about six inches. The adult female lacks the l)lack head and throat. 38 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Torn Bunting. jtiN>/^V;» The Corn Bunting (Emheriza miliaria, Linnaeus) is a resident species in the British Isles, and is also met with throughout most parts of Europe, with the exception of the Far North. It is also found ranging eastward through Central Asia. The colouration of the adult male in summer is, above, hair-brown, with dark centres to the feathers ; lower back and rump not so distinctly marked ; wing-coverts, dark brown, margined with buff; primaries, dullish brown ; tail, dark brown, with pale margins ; moustachial line composed of dark brown spots ; throat and under parts, buffish-white, profusely spotted on the breast and streaked with brown on the flanks; bill, yellowish-brown ; irides and legs, brown. Length, about seven inches. Both sexes are alike. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 39 Cirl Buntincj, The Cirl Bunting {Emberiza cirlus^ Linnaeus) is a very local species, being principally found in the South of England. It is also met with in Western Europe, Southern Europe, Asia Minor, Algeria, and North-Western Africa. The colouration of the adult male is, above, chestnut, with black streaks. Head and hinder part of neck, olive, streaked with black ; rump, greenish-olive, with streaks of dusky ; eye-stripe and one below, yellow ; lores and ear- coverts, black ; throat, black, succeeded by a collar of pale sulphur colour ; underneath is a band of olive-grey, followed by stripes of reddish-brown running down the flanks ; abdomen, pale dull yellow; irides, brown; bill, leaden colour; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about six inches. The female has no black or yellow markings on the face. 40 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IDellow Bunting. The Yellow Bunting {^Emberiza citrinella^ Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Islands. It is also a resident throughout Europe and in Asia, reaching as far eastward as Turkestan. The adult male in summer has the crown yellow, tinged with green on the sides ; eye-stripe, yellow ; above, brown, feathers having black centres ; rump and tail-coverts, chestnut ; tail-feathers, mostly dark brown, with elongated white patches on the two outermost pairs ; wings, dark brown ; primaries, dusky brown, margined narrowly with yellowish ; beneath, yellow, tinged on chest with dull olive ; flanks, streaked with blackish-brown ; irides, dark- brown ; bill, horn colour; legs and feet, light brown. Length, between six and seven inches. The female is duller in colouration than the male. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 41 ©rtolau Buntiiuj. Jou/i/ 2?ui The Ortolan Bunting i^Eniberiza ho7'iulana^ Linn?eus) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles ; it is also a visitor in summer to temperate Europe and Central Asia, and in winter moves into Northern Africa and India. The adult male has the general colour of the upper parts reddish-brown ; feathers on mantle and back, streaked with black; head, grey, with a tinge of greenish- yellow; a ring round eye, lores, chin, and throat, yellow; sides of neck and band across chest, yellowish-green ; under parts, cinnamon ; irides, brown ; bill, red ; legs and feet, reddish. Length, about six inches. The adult females resemble the male, but are lighter in colour, and the chest has mottlings of dusky brown. 42 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Blacft^bea&eb Bunting. The Black-headed Bunting [Ej?iberiza melanocephala^ Sco- poli) is a very rare irregular spring and autumn visitor to the British Isles. In summer it is exceedingly common in South-Eastern Europe ; it spends the winter in India. The adult male in nuptial dress has the wings brown ; coverts, tipped with pale brown ; innermost secondaries, broadly edged with pale brown ; rectrices, brown ; head, lores, and auriculars, black ; rest of upper parts, chestnut, extending to the sides of breast ; under parts, rich yellow, tinged with rufous on sides of body ; irides, dark brown ; bill, grey ; legs, pale brown. Length, about six inches. The adult female lacks the black on the head, and plumage generally is brownish and yellowish. In winter the whole plumage has a dingy appearance. The young in first plumage are very similar to the adult female. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 43 OLittlc JBimtino. John Uu,\icAN. The Little Bunting {Eniheriza pusilla, Pallas) is an ex- tremely rare autumn migrant to the British Isles. In summer it is found in North-Eastern Europe and Siberia, and spends the winter in India and China. The adult male in nuptial plumage has the upper parts rufous-brown, conspicuously streaked with black; tail, dark brown, edged with paler brown, except two outermost feathers which have elongated patches of white on inner webs ; wings, barred with buff; head, bright chestnut, black band on each side of the crown ; chin and upper throat, rufous-chestnut ; under parts, white, with black streaks on breast and flanks ; irides, bill, legs, and feet, dark brown. Length, five inches. The adult female in summer is similar to the male, but the plumage is duller. 44 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1Ru6tic Buntino^ John Duncan. The Rustic Bunting (yEmberiza rustica, Pallas) is a rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Isles. It also inhabits Northern Russia and Siberia, in winter migrating westward and southward. The adult male in summer has the back and scapulars reddish-brown, with mottlings of black, and bordered broadly with buff; rump, rich chest- nut ; crown and sides of head, black ; eye-stripe and throat, white ; band across chest, rich chestnut ; rectrices, deep brown ; outermost pair of feathers, mostly white ; breast and belly, white ; flanks, streaked broadly with rich chest- nut ; irides, dark brown ; bill, dark brown above, yellowish beneath; legs and feet, yellowish flesh colour. Length, about five inches. The colouration of the female is gener- ally duller than that of the male. 45 JURIJS 01- IHI-: JiRITISH ISLES. Branbts Siberian Buntiiuj. Branut's Siberian Bunting {Eniberiza cioides^ Moore) is a partially migratory species, an example being taken near Flamborough. It is found in Northern China. Shv^Xarh. %^JMr^''/'j0Hf^ DuAfCAV. The Sky-Lark (A/audu arvensis^ Linnreus) is a generally distributed resident species throughout the British Islands. It is also a resident throughout nearly the whole of the Palearctic Region. The adult male in summer plumage is of various shades of brown, here and there tinged with yellowish buff. The feathers on the top of the head form a dark brown crest, with paler edges. Upper parts, brown, with darker centres ; eye-stripe, buffish ; tail feathers have (lark brown centres and edged with tawny ; outer pair, chiefly white ; second pair, white on outer webs ; below, tinged with tawny-buff or rufous, boldly spotted on sides 46 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. of breast and throat with dark brown ; irides, dark brown ; bill, brown; legs and feet, pale yellowish-brown. Length, about seven inches. Moo&*Xarft. The Wood-Lark {Aiauda arborea^ Linnaeus) is a somewhat widely distributed resident species, but is very local. It is said to be unequally distributed over the Western Pale- arctic Region, south of latitude 60° N. The adult in summer resembles the sky-lark in the general colouration of the plumage and crest, but can readily be distinguished from the latter by its smaller size, shorter tail, and the stripe over the eye, which is very broad, and buffish-white in colouration, and reaches to the nape of the neck. Irides, dark brown ; bill, brown ; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about five inches. The adult female is similar in coloura- tion to the adult male. The young are more rufous in colour than the adults, and the feathers have light buff tips. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 47 SborWoeJ) Xarft. The Short-tocd Lark {Calandrella brachydactyla^ Leisler) is a rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands. It is a resident in Southern Europe and Northern Africa, and has been met with as far eastward as India. The adult male in nesting plumage has the upper parts chiefly light sandy-brown, with blackish centres to the feathers, those on the head narrow, and on rump, obscure; under parts, pale ochreous-white ; breast, washed with buffish-brown; with a few large streaks on the sides of the breast; tail-feathers, dark brown; centre webs of outermost pair, mostly creamy- white; next pair with terminal part of outer web, creamy- white; central rectrices, margined with pale sandy-grey; irides, brown; bill, brown; legs and feet, brownish. Length, about five inches. The adult female is similar to the male. 48 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Cre^tcb Xarft. ■''^'' John Du/vc/i^ The Crested Lark {Gakrita cristafa, Linnseus) is a rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands, but is a resident species in most parts of Continental Europe and Asia. The adult male has the upper parts of the plumage brown, with centre of feathers blackish; nape and upper back, washed in parts with pale ochreous brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts, buff; tail-feathers, brown, with paler margins; superciliary stripe, buff; crest, which is con- spicuous, has the feathers buff in colour with dark brown centres; lower parts, buffish-white; sides of throat and chest, spotted with brown; flanks, streaked with dark brown; irides, hazel; bill, brown, paler beneath; legs and feet, light brown. Length, about six inches. The adult female is similar to the male. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 49 The White-winged Lark (yMelanocorypha sibirica, Gmelin) is a very rare autumn visitor to the British Isles, but in parts of Russia and Central Asia it is a resident, and is met with occasionally in Austria and Italy. The adult male in summer has the crown, lesser wing-coverts, and upper tail- coverts, chestnut; tail, brown, margined with white on the inner webs ; upper parts, brown, margined with russet, and shading into lighter on nape ; secondaries, white, dark at bases ; primaries, dark brown, with white tips ; under parts, dull white, tinged with buffish on breast and shading into brownish on flanks, the former finely spotted and the latter streaked with brown and rufous ; irides, brown ; legs and feet, brown ; bill, deep horn colour, pale yellowish beneath. Length, about seven inches. The adult female is similar to the male, but duller in colouration. 50 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. CaIan^ra Xarft, The Calandra Lark [Melanocorypha calandra^ Linnaeus) is an exceedingly rare autumn migrant to the British Isles, but is a permanent resident in the South of France and in Spain, also in parts of Italy and Greece, and is very numerous in Turkey and North Africa. The adult is greyish-brown on the upper parts, with dark centres to the feathers ; under parts, white, washed with tawny, and finely streaked with dark brown. On each side of the neck is a conspicuous patch of black. Length, about six inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 51 Sbore^Xarft< The Shore-Lark {Otocorys alpesttis^ Linnoeus) is a regular autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is also found in Northern Europe, Asia, and America, and during migration occurs in most parts of Europe. The adult male has the crown, ear-tufts, lores, and lower neck band, black ; forehead, superciliary stripe, chin, and upper throat, yellowish ; general colour of upper parts, greyish- brown, tinged with pinkish-brown on nape, lesser wing- coverts, and upper tail-coverts ; feathers on back have dark centres ; centre tail-feathers, ashy, centred with black ; remainder, black, outer one edged with white ; under parts of body, white, washed on flanks with pale brown ; irides, dark brown ; bill, slate colour ; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about seven inches. The adult female has no ear-tufts. 52 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. pici> Magtail. The Pied Wagtail (Afo/ad//a alba Yarrellii^ Gould) is a resident in, and is widely and generally distributed over, the British Isles during the nesting season, occurring also in Western Europe ; elsewhere it is only a summer visitant ; it spends the winter in the western portions of North Africa. The adult male in summer has the top of the head, nape, part of the shoulders, chin, neck, throat, and upper breast, rich black ; forehead, sides of the face, and patch on sides of neck, white ; mantle, rump, and wing- coverts, black ; the latter having white margins to the feathers, forming a double bar ; primaries, blackish ; inner secondaries, with white margins on outer edge ; abdomen, white ; sides and flanks, tinged with blackish ; tail, black ; outermost feathers, white on outer webs ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, seven inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Mbite Matjtail. 53 The White Wagtail {Motacilla alba, Linnaeus) is a regular spring visitant to the British Isles, and has been on several occasions identified as having nested in this country. It is a resident species in some parts of Southern Europe, and spends the winter in North Africa. The adult male in summer has the chin, throat, and breast, black; auriculars, and patch on sides of neck, white; above, grey; wing- coverts, with black bases and edged with white ; crown and nape, black ; rump and upper wing-coverts, ashy-grey, tipped with white ; median ones also with white tips ; primaries, blackish; under parts, white; sides, ashy-grey; tail-feathers, black in centre ; outer ones, white, edged with black in- wardly ; irides, dark brown; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about seven inches. The female is similar to the male, but the black on the crown is mixed with ashy. 54 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Bre? Magtail "-^"!!^^" The Grey Wagtail {Afotaciiia sulphurea, Bechstein) is a resident species pretty generally distributed throughout the British Islands, but is more local in the South of England. It is also a resident in Central and Southern Europe, ranging across Central Asia; and is to be met with in winter in India, Persia, and Northern Africa. The adult male in summer is bluish-grey above ; rump, yellow ; eye- stripe, white; moustachial line, white; throat, black; under parts, bright yellow ; under tail-coverts, richer yellow : wings, greyish-black; coverts, tipped with whitish; tail, blackish-brown ; outer rectrices, white ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, brown. Length, between seven and eight inches. The adult female is similar, but colours not so brilliant. The young are browner in colour than the female, and the eye-stripe is huffish. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 55 BIuc::*bea&eJ> MagtaiL The Blue-headed Wagtail {Motacilla fiava, Linnxus) is an irregular spring and autumn visitor to the British Isles. It is mostly met with on the South Coast, and has nested in the North of England. It also nests in Central Europe and Central Asia, and migrates to Africa in winter. The adult male in summer has the crown and nape bluish-grey ; distinct white eye-stripe ; back, deep yellowish-olive ; wing- coverts, dark brown, with yellowish-white tips, which form a double bar ; secondaries, margined with yellowish-white ; primaries, dark brown ; tail, dusky-brown ; two outer tail- feathers on each side, mostly white; chin and underneath lores, white ; under parts, bright yellow ; iridcs, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, dark brown. Length, about six inclios. The female is duller and fainter in colour than the male. $6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IPcUow Magtail. The Yellow Wagtail {Motacilla rati, Bonaparte) is a widely distributed common summer visitor to the British Isles. It also nests in Central and Western Europe, and spends the winter in Africa. The adult male in summer has the general colour above, olive-yellow; under parts, bright yellow ; superciliary stripe, yellow ; wings, dark brown; wing-coverts and secondaries, tipped and mar- gined with yellowish-white; tail-feathers, blackish-brown, with the exception of the two outer pairs, which are white ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about six inches. The adult female is similar to the adult male, but the colours are duller, and show a brown tinge on the back. The young somewhat resemble the female, but have the throat and chest light fawn colour ; there are also brown spots on the chest ; remainder of under parts, yellow. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 57 ^ree pipit The Tree Pipit [Aiithus trivialis^ Einnreus) is a summer visitor to the British Islands, but it is comparatively rare in Scotland, and is exceedingly scarce in Ireland. It visits Central and Northern Europe and Asia during summer, spending the winter in Africa, Persia, and India. The adult in summer has the upper parts dark brown, margined broadly with buffish-brown; wings and most of tail-feathers, dark brown, edged with paler brown; about one-half of the outer pair of rectrices, white; chin, whitish; throat, Ijuff; beneath, pale buff; abdomen, white; sides of throat, chest, and flanks, spotted and streaked with dark brown: irides, dark brown; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about six inches. The female is similar to the male, but the streaks on the under parts are narrower. This species is readily dis- tinguished from Anthus pfiitensis by its shorter and much curved hind claw. 58 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. flDeabow pipit The Meadow Pipit (yAnthus prateiisis^ Linnaeus) is a common resident species throughout the British Isles, but is subject to partial migration in winter. It also breeds in most parts of Europe, and winters in Africa. The adult in summer is olive-brown above, the feathers having black centres, those on the mantle margined with whitish; wing-coverts and secondaries, brown, edged with bufifish-white; primaries, dark brown, with exterior margins of yellowish -green; eye-stripe, yellowish-buff; throat and breast, tawny-buff, the latter closely streaked with blackish-brown; flanks, tinged with olive and streaked broadly with black; lower parts, bufBsh; tail, dark brown; outer tail-feathers, mostly white; irides, dark brown; bill, blackish; legs and feet, light brown. Length, about six inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. aipiiie pipit 59 Jofifii Duncan The Alpine Pipit {Afilhiis spipoletta, Linnceus) is a rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Isles. It nests in the mountain regions of Central Europe, also in parts of Spain ; and on migration occurs in other portions of Europe, passing the winter in Northern Africa. The adult male in summer is olive-brown above ; paler on rump ; feathers of upper parts, darker in centre ; eye-stripe, creamy-white ; wings and tail, dark brown, margined with paler; the outer- most tail-feathers, mostly white : chin, centre of abdomen, and under tail-coverts, pale ochreous-white ; remainder of under parts, pale buff tinged with chestnut ; Hanks, olive- brown ; irides, dark brown ; bill, blackish, paler beneath ; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about six inches. 6o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1Roch ipipit. The Rock Pipit {Anthus obscunis, Latham) is a resident in the British Islands ; it also occurs as a summer visitant in Northern Europe, and in winter is found in Central and Southern Europe. The adult male in summer plumage is olive-brown above, the feathers having dark centres ; wings and tail, dark brown, with paler edges to the former and olivaceous edges to the latter ; eye-stripe, buffish-yellow ; throat, dull white ; beneath, buffish-yellow, feathers closely mottled with dark brown centres ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, brown ; the hind claw is much curved. Length, about six inches. The adult female resembles the male, but underneath is less spotted. The young are darker in colouration, and the under parts are more heavily marked. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 6i Zamx^ pipit, The Tawny Pipit {Ajiihus campestn's, Linnceus) is a rare and irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands. It breeds in Central as well as Southern Europe, passing the winter in Africa and India. The adult male has the upper parts sandy-brown, with darker centres; rump, sandy brown : central tail-feathers, dark brown, margined witli ligliter ; wings, dark brown ; under parts, buffish-white ; darkest on breast, the latter faintly spotted ; irides, dark brown ; bill, dark brown ; lower mandible, light brown ; legs and feel, pale brown. Length, about six inches. Tiie female closely resembles the male. This species is subject to much varia- tion in colour of i)luniage. 62 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1Ricbar&'6 Ipipit Richard's Pipit {Anihus Richardt, Vieillot) is an irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is also found inhabiting Central Asia, and during migration is met with accidentally in various parts of Europe, wintering in Southern Asia and North -Eastern Africa. The adult male in nuptial plumage has the upper parts mostly of a yellowish-brown tint, with darker centres to the feathers of the head and back; eye-stripe, whitish; two outermost tail-feathers, nearly white; under parts, dull white, tinged on breast and sides with reddish-brown, and streaked with dark brown ; irides, hazel ; bill, dark brown, paler beneath ; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, from seven to eight inches. This pipit can easily be distinguished from other pipits by its large size and developed hind claw. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRcb^^tbroateJ) pipit 63 The Red-throated Pipit {Anthits cervinus, Pallas) is an extremely rare spring migrant to the British Islands, visiting Arctic Europe and Asia during summer, and wintering in North-Eastern Africa and the South of Asia. The adult male in summer has the upper parts sandy-brown, tinged with olive ; centre of feathers with bold markings of dark brown ; wings, dark brown, margined with paler ; above and below the eye, sides of neck, throat, and chest, rusty red ; tail, dark brown, with paler margins ; two outermost feathers principally white ; under parts, pale buffish-brown, thinly streaked with dark brown ; irides, brown ; bill, brown; base beneath, yellowish; legs and feet, light brown. Length, about six inches. The adult female in summer is similar to the male, but lacks the rusty red on the chest. 64 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Comnion Creeper. The Common Creeper {Certhia faniiliaris, Linnaeus) is a more or less commonly distributed resident species in the British Islands, and throughout most parts of Europe. The adult has the crown of the head dark brown, with whitish centres to the feathers ; stripe over eye, whitish ; nape and mantle, rufous -brown, streaked in centre of feathers with buffish-white; wnngs, brown, barred with paler brow^n ; secondaries, tipped with whitish ; under parts, silvery-white, tinged with buff on the flanks ; tail, graduated with stiff points, and dull reddish-brown in colour, the feathers having yellowish shafts ; irides, hazel ; bill, strongly decurved, dark brown ; beneath, yellowish ; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about five inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 65 MalUCreepcr. The Wall-Creeper {licJiodroma viuraria^ Linnaius), which is an exceedingly rare and irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, is a resident in the moun- tainous parts of Southern Europe, and is also met with in some portions of the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada. The adult male in summer has the upper parts pearl-grey ; top of head, tinged with brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts, blackish ; tail, black, tipped with grey and white ; wing- coverts and basal halves of outer webs of primaries, rich crimson ; rest of primaries, dark brown, with conspicuous 66 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. spots of white on longest quills, the latter tipped with white ; belly and under tail-coverts, black ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about six inches. The adult female in summer is similar to the male. 3firecre6t Joff/w JJuf^CftA/ The Firecrest {Regmus ignicapillus, Brehm) is an abnormal autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and is a resident in most of temperate Europe, but does not travel so far northwards as the golden-crested wren. The adult male is " above, olive-green ; brighter on sides of neck ; frontal band and sides of face, whitish, with a black line through the eye ; centre of crown, orange-yellow, bordered by a broad black line on either side; ear-coverts, slaty; wings and tail, dark brown, with pale margins, crossed by two white bars; beneath, dull buffish-white." Irides, hazel; bill, legs, and feet, dark brown. Length, about three inches. The female is duller. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (5ol&crc6t 67 John DuNCAf/'. The Goldcrest {Regulus cristatus^ Koch) is a generally and widely distributed resident throughout the British Isles in suitable localities. It is also met with over the whole of Europe, north to the Arctic Circle, and occurs in temperate Asia as far east as the Amoor. The adult has the feathers on crown bright golden orange, paler at sides and bordered with black ; forehead, dingy olive ; lores, greyish-white ; eye-stripe, cheeks, and throat, brownish-yellow ; upper parts, olive-green ; primaries, greyish-brown, margined with yellowish ; secondaries, black on lower parts and tipped with whitish ; greater and median wing-coverts, margined with white ; under parts, greenish-buff, becoming whiter on abdomen ; tail, ash-brown, margined with yellowish ; irides, brown; bill, dark brown; legs and feet, brown. Length, about three inches. 68 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common IHutbatcb. The Common Nuthatch {Sitfa cassia, Wolf) is a very local resident species, being met with principally in England. It is of rare occurrence in Scotland, and, so far, has not been known to occur in Ireland. It also inhabits Central Europe, and is found in Asia Minor and Palestine. The adult has the upper parts slaty-blue ; chin, whitish, shading into brownish-buff beneath ; flanks, tinged with chestnut ; from the base of the bill a black band reaches to each eye,. extending behind the eye along the sides of the neck; primaries, greyish-brown ; tail-feathers, with the exception of centre ones, black, tipped with grey ; outermost rectrices, blackish, tipped with grey and barred with white; irides, hazel ; bill, dark horn colour ; base beneath, whitish ; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about five inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 69 Bcarbcb ^itntouee^ ' 'John Duncan. The Bearded Titmouse I^Panurus biarniicus, Linnxus) is a resident species in the British Islands, but is chiefly con- fined to the vicinity of the Norfolk Broads. It is also a resident in Europe and Central Asia. The adult male in summer has the crown grey ; moustachial line, black ; nape, back, and rump, rufous-brown ; scapulars, buffish- white ; lesser wing-coverts, greyish-brown, with buff tips ; greater wing-coverts, black, broadly margined and tipped with rufous-brown ; wings, dark brown ; primaries, edged broadly and tipped with white ; secondaries, edged with russet; throat, dull white; breast, tinged with flesh colour; sides, reddish-buff; tail, which is graduated, reddish-fawn colour; outer feathers, with white edges; under tail-coverts, black ; irides, yellow ; bill, yellow ; legs and feet, black. Length, about six inches. The female has no black mous- tachial line. yo BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Xono^'tailet) ^itmouee. The Long-tailed Titmouse {Acredula candata rosea, Blyth) is a resident species generally distributed over the British Islands. It also occurs in Western Europe, France, Bel- gium, and in the Rhine district. The adult male has the head black and white ; above, black and pink ; below, rosy grey ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about six inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 71 Crestcb ^itinouec. . , -.,_'« The Crested Titmouse {Funis cris/afus, Linnceus) is said to be a " resident only in the forests which clothe the valley of the Spey and the adjacent rivers." It is also found inhabiting Northern and Central Europe. The adult has the feathers on head black, broadly tipped with white; the feathers springing from the crown backwards are con- siderably elongated and form a conical crest ; cheeks, whitish, marked with a few black specks; ear-coverts, black, behind which is a collar of white, margined by a black line reaching from the nape and joining the throat, which, with the chin and upper breast, is also black; upper parts, pale yellowish-brown; primaries and tail, brownish; under parts, white, tinged witli ochreous; irides, brown; bill, black; legs and feet, leaden colour. Lengtii, about four inches. The female has a shorter crest, and the black on the throat is less developed. 72 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. flDareb ^itntouac. The Marsh Titmouse {Parus palustris, Linnaeus, and Funis palustris Dresseri, Stejneger) is a resident species in some counties in England and Wales, but in Scotland it becomes very local, and in Ireland it appears to be scarce. It is a common resident throughout Central Europe, but in Southern Europe it becomes scarcer. The adult has the head, nape, and throat, black; upper parts, olive-brown; primaries and tail, ashy-brown; outer margins of feathers, edged with paler brown; sides of head, whitish; under parts, ashy-white, tinged on flanks with buff; irides, brown; bill, black; legs and feet, bluish-grey. Length, about four inches. The female is similar in colour to the male. The young closely resemble the adults, but the colours are not so bright. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 73 Coal vritmou6c. The Coal Titmouse {Parus ater, LinncTus ; Pants ater Brita?uiicus, Sharpe and Dresser) is a cjenerally distributed, though not very numerous, species throughout the British Isles. It also is a resident in most parts of Europe, as well as North -Western Asia. The adult has the head, nape of the neck, and throat, glossy black ; cheeks, sides of the neck, and a central spot in the nape, Nvhite ; back and scapulars, greenish -brown, tinged with grey: rump, yellowish-grey; wings, greyish-brown, margined with paler brown ; the greater and lesser coverts, tipped with dull white, forming two bars across the wings ; tail, greyish- brown ; breast and abdomen, dull white ; flanks, buftish ; irides, brown; bill, blackish; legs and feet, bluish -grey. Length, about four inches. The female is similar to the male. 74 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ffiluc ^itmouec. The Blue Titmouse {Parus aiiruleus, Linnaeus) is a com- mon resident in the British Isles, and also in Central and Southern Europe. The adult has the crown of the head cobalt blue ; forehead, and a line running backward over the eyes encircling the head, white ; cheeks, white ; streak before and behind the eye, black ; nape of the neck, collar, and throat, deep blue-black; back, olive, tinged with yellow; rump, paler; wings and tail, blue; greater coverts and secondaries, tipped with white ; under parts, sulphur-yellow; irides, dark brown ; bill, bluish ; legs and feet, bluish-grey. Length, about four inches. The female is duller in colouration. The young show less blue and more yellow in comparison to their otherwise dingy plumage. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 75 (Brcat ^itmouec '^f-^JoHA/Uur/CA/i/. \ The Great Titmouse {Parus major^ Linnrcus) is one of the commonest and most widely distributed of the resident titmice found in the British Islands. It is also a resident species in Central and Southern LLurope, as well as Eastern Asia, and it occurs in some parts of Northern Africa. The adult has the head and throat glossy black, iridescent with rich blue ; ear-coverts and cheeks, white ; nape, yellowish- green, showing a whitish spot in the centre ; hack, yellowish-green ; rump and tail, bluish-grey, the latter having the exterior feathers of outer webs wliite ; greater coverts tipped with white, margined externally with grey ; primaries, blackish ; chest, and centre of abdomen, black ; rest of under parts, dull sulphur-yellow ; irides, dark brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, slate colour. Lengtii, about six inches. 76 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, Maywing. The Waxwing {Ainpelis garrubis^ Linnaeus) is a nomadic autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles. It is found inhabiting the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult male has the forehead and crest reddish-chest- nut; from the base of the bill a broad black streak passes through and over the eye; throat, black; upper parts, generally light greyish -brown ; primaries, blackish, with the outer web towards the tip white on the outer feather, and yellow on the inner ones ; the inner web with broad tips of white; secondaries, blackish -grey, tipped with red sealing-wax-like points, and terminated with a broad bar of yellow ; under parts, vinous red ; irides, reddish-brown ; bill, black; base beneath, pale horn colour; legs and feet, black. Length, about seven inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 77 IRcb^bachcb Sbrihc The Red-backed Shrike {Lanius collurio, Linna:iis) is a fairly well distributed species in the British Islands during the summer, especially over Wales and Southern and Cen- tral England. It is also said to be met with in South Scandinavia, Asia Minor, and Turkestan, moving south- ward in winter to Africa. The adult male has the crown of the head, nape, upper back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, bright ash-grey; lores, feathers round the eye, and car- coverts, black; back and scapulars, rich chestnut - brown ; wing-coverts, black, edged broadly with chestnut ; wings, black ; quills, narrowly edged with chestnut ; secondaries, with broad margins of the same colour ; middle feathers of tail, black ; remainder with more or less white at base, and tipped with white ; chin, white ; lower parts, rose-red ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about seven inches. The adult female can be distinguished by having no black about the head. 78 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Moobcbat Qbvikc. ^-lier i^UriQ/^H' The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius n/f/is, Brisson) is only an accidental visitor to the British Isles, mostly during mi- gration. It is said to be a summer visitant to Central and Southern Europe, nesting as far east as Persia, and as far north as the shores of the Baltic. The adult male has the forehead, space round eye, ear-coverts, sides of neck and upper portion of back, black ; lores, white ; crown, nape, and upper back, rich chestnut ; rump, white ; lower back, grey; longest upper tail-coverts, grey; tail, black, central two rectrices white at base and with white tips ; outermost two tail-feathers nearly all white on outer web; wings, black; basal portion of quills, white, showing a conspicuous spot ; secondaries, tipped with white ; under parts, white ; irides, hazel-brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, from six to seven inches. The female is similar to the male, but the -colouration is duller. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 79 Xe^eer (5re? Sbrihc, The Lesser Grey Shrike {Laiiius minor, Gmelin) is a rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands. It is a summer visitor to Central and Southern Europe, where it breeds, and winters in Southern Africa. The adult male has the crown of the head, hinder crown, nape, hind neck, mantle, scapulars, upper and lower back, pearl-grey; rump, lighter ; tail, black, feathers more or less marked with white ; two outermost ones on each side, all white ; frontal band, feathers round eye, and ear-coverts, black ; wings, black, with a conspicuous white spot ; cheeks, white ; under parts, white, tinged with rosy on breast and flanks ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about eight inches. The female shows less black on the front of the head. 8o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Brcat (Brc? Sbrikc* '''JOMA/JjmCAN The Great Grey Shrike {Lajiius excuhitor^ Linnaeus) is an autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and a summer visitor to Northern and Central Europe, spending the winter in Southern Europe. The adult male has the crown and upper parts pearl-grey, getting more ashy towards the tail-coverts, the latter being tipped with white; forehead and eye-stripe, white; wings, black; secondaries, white at bases, and tipped with white; quills, barred with white near their bases, and forming two white spots; lores, and below eye, and auriculars, black; under parts, white; two centre tail-feathers, black, next two, whitish; outermost ones, all BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 8i white; irides, brown; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about nine inches. The adult female is similar to the male, but the colouration is duller. Pallas's Grey Shrike {Laniiis major, Pallas) is said to be a fairly frequent autumn migrant to the British Isles, and to inhabit Siberia and Manchuria, south of about lat. 65°. This shrike closely resembles Lanius excubUo7\ but has only one white wing bar, whilst the latter has two. 7'he adult sexes are similar in colour. Cbiffchaff. The Chiffchaff {Phylloscopiis ritfus, licchstein), which is a spring migrant to the British Islands, is also a summer visitant to Northern temperate Europe, spending the winter on the shores of the Mediterranean. The adult in summer has the general colour of the upper parts olive-green; rump, yellowish-green; tail, brown, edged with yellowish- green; wings, brown, with yellowish-green edgings; cye- 6 82 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. stripe, pale yellow, shading into white behind ear-coverts; lores, olive; chin and throat, whitish; primaries, brown, edged on the outside webs with olive-green, and narrowly tipped with white; under parts, whitish, tinged with greenish- buff; irides, brown; bill, legs, and feet, blackish-brown. Length, about four inches. The adult female is similar to the male. The young resemble the adults, but underneath they are wholly olive-yellow. pallas^s Millow Mreit Pallas's Willow Wren {Phylloscopus proregiilics, Pallas) is an exceedingly rare visitor to the British Isles. An example of this wren was killed on October 31st, 1895, ^^ Cley, in Norfolk. It bears a great resemblance to Phylloscopus superciliosus, but can easily be distinguished from the latter by the pale mesial line on the crown, and by the strikingly pale yellow rump. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 83 36l?tb'5 Millow Mren, Blyth's Willow Wren {Phylloscopus vin'daniis, Blyth) is a very rare visitor to the British Isles, and is a native of Central Asia, nesting in Turkestan, and wintering in India. A specimen was procured on September 5th, 1895, at North Cotes, on the Lincolnshire coast. This warbler closely resembles Phyiloscopus irocJiilus^ but shows a con- spicuous wing bar. 84 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. l^cUow*browe5 MiUow Mren, The Yellow-browed "Willow Wren {Phylloscopiis supercili- osiis^ Gmelin) is an exceedingly rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles. It is found inhabiting the North-east Palearctic Region. The adult male in summer is above "greyish-olive, washed with green on rump and upper tail-coverts ; wings, brown, crossed by two con- spicuous whitish bars ; most of feathers externally margined with yellowish-green ; from base of bill to nape a broad greyish-white streak, with a dark one immediately below it and through the eye; beneath, white, washed with yellowish- green, especially on flanks ; axillaries, yellow ; " irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, brown. Length, about three inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 85 Millow Mren. The Willow Wren {Phylloscopus troc/iilus, Linnceus) is a common summer visitant to the British Islands from Africa and Persia, moving northwards to the Arctic Regions. The adult in summer has the general colour of the upper parts olive-green, shading into yellower on the rump; wing-coverts, olive, with edgings of olive-green ; primaries, brown, tipped narrowly with greyish-white; tail, dull brown; eye-streak and ear-coverts, pale yellow; most of under parts, white, tinged with yellow; breast and flanks, suffused with yellowish- buff; irides, hazel; bill, legs, and feet, brown. Length, about five inches. The female is similar to the male in colouration. The young show more yellow on the under parts than the adults. S6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. mioob Mreii r:.^_-?-:.C-..-ii^^^iM^ The Wood Wren (^Phylloscopus sibilatrix^ Bechstein) is a summer visitor to the British Islands, and also to the tem- perate parts of Northern Europe. It wends its way to North Africa to spend the winter. The adult male in nuptial plumage has the upper parts yellowish -green; a broad streak of sulphur-yellow passes over and behind the eye; wing-coverts, olive-green, margined with paler green; primaries, brown, tipped with whitish, and edged with yellowish -green; tail, greyish-brown; throat and breast, sulphur- yellow; abdomen and under tail-coverts, white; irides, hazel; bill, dark brown, much lighter below; legs and feet, brown. Length, from four to five inches. The female is similar in plumage to the male. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 2>artfoi*b Marblcr. JOHI^ DomCAU The Dart ford Warbler {Sy/via provincialis, Gmelin) is a resident species in the British Isles, but is principally con- fined to the south. It is also found as a resident in the Western and Southern parts of Europe. The adult male in summer has the head deep slate-colour ; nape and back, sooty-brown ; tail, very dark grey ; outer feathers, margined and tipped with whitish ; innermost secondaries, wing-coverts, and primary feathers, dark brown, with paler margins ; some white streaks on the throat ; under parts, chestnut-brown, merging into white on the centre of the abdomen ; irides, orange-yellow ; bill, very dark brown : base of under mandible, paler ; legs, feet, and claws, brown. Length, five inches. The adult female in summer has the under parts light cinnamon-brown, with the ex- ception of the centre of the belly, which is whiti-. 88 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. %CBBCV Mbitetbroat The Lesser Whitethroat {^Sylvia curruca^ Linnaeus), which is a spring migrant to the British Isles, nests throughout most parts of Europe, and winters in Africa. The adult male in summer plumage has the upper parts light slate- grey, suffused more or less with brown on the back, lores, and ear-coverts; eye-stripe, barely discernible; primaries, brown ; innermost secondaries, margined broadly with lighter brown ; tail, brown ; outer tail-feathers on each side, white ; breast and flanks, very pale brown ; remainder of under parts, white: irides, hazel; bill, blackish, lighter at base beneath ; legs, feet, and claws, bluish-grey. Length, about five inches. The female closely resembles the male, but the eye-stripe is absent. The young are similar to the adult female. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 89 Mbitctbroat. The Whitethroat {Sylvia cuierea, Bechstein) is a common and widely distributed summer visitor to the British Isles, and is also a summer visitant to most parts of Europe, passing the winter in Southern Africa. The adult male in nuptial plumage has the head and neck ashy-grey; mantle, greyish-brown ; upper tail-coverts, ash-grey ; tail, dark greyish-brown ; outermost tail-feathers, edged with whitish ; the next pair tipped broadly with white ; wings, brown ; secondaries, broadly margined with pale chestnut ; throat and abdomen, white, tinged with vinous on breast ; flanks, buff; irides, hazel; bill, dark brown; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about five inches. The adult female shows no vinous tinge on breast, and the rest of the plumage is duller. go BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (5ar&en Marbler The Garden Warbler {Sylvia horiensis, Gmelin), which is a spring and summer visitor to the British Isles, is said to be found everywhere throughout Europe. It winters in Africa. The adult male in summer plumage has the upper parts olive-brown; darker on the wings and tail; eye- streak, pale olive-brown; primaries, dark brown, with lighter margins on wing-coverts and innermost secondaries ; under- neath, mostly buffish-white; centre of abdomen, whiter; breast and flanks, pale olive-brown or buffish-brown ; centre of under tail-coverts, buffish-brown ; irides, hazel ; bill, dark brown ; base of lower mandible, paler ; legs, feet, and claws, bluish-grey. Length, from five to six inches. The adult female is similar to the male, but a little paler in colouration. The young show broad pale margins on primaries and secondaries. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 91 Blachcap Marblcn , :^a/vCAi The Blackcap Warbler {Sylvia atricapilla, Linnaeus) is a summer visitor to the British Islands, being generally, although somewhat locally, distributed throughout England and Wales. It becomes rarer in Scotland, and in Ireland is very sparingly dispersed. It is a resident in Southern Europe, also in the northern parts of Africa, and in summer extends northwards through the temperate regions of Europe. The adult male in summer has the forehead, crown, and occiput, black ; general colour of upper parts, bluish-grey, slightly tinged with olive-brown, most prominently on the margins of i:)rimaries and tail-feathers ; throat and under parts, greyish-ash ; chin and belly, paler ; irides, hazel ; bill, horn colour ; legs and feet, lead colour. Length, about five inches. The adult female has the top of the head reddish-brown ; remainder, browner than the male. 92 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ©rpbcau Marbler. The Orphean Warbler {Sylvia orphea, Temminck) is a very rare irregular spring migrant to the British Islands. It nests throughout the whole of Central and Southern Europe and Northern Africa. The adult male has the general colour of the upper parts slate-grey, with a brown tinge; wings and tail, brown, broadly margined with ashy; outermost tail-feathers, white on outer webs; head, lores, and ear-coverts, blackish; cheeks, throat, and remainder of under parts, white, tinged on breast and flanks with huffish; under tail-coverts, buff; irides, pale yellow; bill, blackish, base beneath, paler; legs and feet, dark brown. Length, about six inches. The adult female is similar to the male, but the colour of the plumage is duller. The young resemble the female. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 93 Subalpinc Marblcn The Subalpine AVarbler {Sylvia subalplna^ Bonelli) is an exceedingly- rare visitor to the British Isles, and is a summer visitor from Northern Africa to the basin of the Mediter- ranean. The adult male in summer is above, ashy-grey; wings and tail, brown, feathers edged with paler brown; throat and chest, reddish-chestnut, bordered on either side by a white line from base of bill; remainder of under parts chiefly white; irides, brown; eyelids, red; bill and legs^ brown. Leno;th, about five inches. BaiTcb Marbler. The Barred ^VarblL•r {Sy/via nison'a, Bcchstein) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands. It is a summer visitant from North-Eastern and Central Africa to- most parts of both Central and Southern Europe. The adult male in summer has the general colour of the upper parts brownish-grey; primaries, wing-coverts, and innermost secondaries, browner, with broad tips of white to the two latter; head and rump, greyish-brown; most feathers above, with the exception of middle of back, have more or less 94 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. broad tips of white, and a subterminal dark bar; below, white, washed with grey; and barred on chin, throat, breast, sides, and under tail-coverts with brown; irides, light yellow; bill, dark brown, pale at base of under mandible; legs and feet, light slaty-brown. Length, about six inches. flDarsb Marblcr. The Marsh Warbler {Acrocephalus palust?'is, Bechstein), which is said to be the most local of all warblers that visit us for nesting purposes, is a summer migrant and reaches the British shores in May. It has occurred in Somerset- shire, Cambridgeshire, and Gloucestershire. This species breeds in Central and Southern Europe, and winters in Africa. The adult closely resembles the reed warbler, but is said to be " more olivaceous-brown above and whiter beneath; and with a more pointed wing; and second primary longer than fourth ; legs, brownish flesh colour ; irides, dark brown." Length, about five inches. The young are de- scribed as being greener on the upper parts than the adults. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 95 1Rufou6 Marblcr. {JoHM JOu/^C/iAf The Rufous Warbler (Aedon galadodes^ Temminck) is an exceedingly rare autumn migrant to the British Islands. It nests in South-Western Europe, and winters in Africa. The adult has the upper parts chestnut; wing-coverts and primaries, brown, margined on outside web with creamy- white ; superciliary stripe, creamy-white ; tail, bright chest- nut, banded with black at terminal end, and followed by tips of white to all the feathers excepting central pair ; beneath, creamy-white ; irides, dark hazel : bill, above, brown ; below, paler at base ; legs and feet, light brown. Length, about six inches. The female resembles the male. The young are similar to the adults, but are said to have the primaries and wing-coverts broadly margined Avith light fulvous. 96 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRceb Maibler. The Reed Warbler {Acrocephahis arundinaceus^ Brisson) is a summer visitor to our islands, its principal headquarters being in the Southern, Midland, and Eastern Counties. Its range outside the British Islands is the same as that of the marsh warbler. The adult in summer garb has the general colour of the upper parts olive-brown, tinged with rufous, especially on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; wings and tail, brown, edged with paler brown ; under parts, white, shading into buff on the sides, thighs, and under tail- coverts ; a pale buff streak passes over each eye ; irides, brown ; bill, pale brown, base of lower mandible paler : legs, slaty-brown. Length, about five inches. The adult female closely resembles the male. The young are similar in colouration, but show more buff underneath. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 97 Sebge Marbler* The Sedge Warbler {Acroccp/ialus phragniitis^ Bechstein) is a summer visitor to the British Isles, and is commonly distributed in all suitable localities. It is said to breed throughout most parts of Europe, and occurs as far east- ward as the valley of the Yenisei, and a short distance north of the Arctic Circle. The adult in summer has the upper parts russet-brown, with dusky-brown centres to the feathers ; eye-stripe, buffish-white ; rump, ycUowish-rufous ; crown, streaked with brown ; wings and tail, brown, mar- gined with paler brown ; beneatli, buffish-white, tinged on flanks with yellowish-brown; irides, hazel; bill, dark brown, paler below ; legs, feet, and claws, pale brown. Length, 98 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. five inches. The female shows less rufous on the rump, and the general colour of the plumage is duller than the male. Great IReeb Marbler. The Great Reed Warbler {Acrocephalus furdoides, Meyer) is a very rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. It breeds in both Central and Southern Europe, and in winter is a resident in Africa. The adult has the general colour above, pale brown, tinged on wings, rump, and tail with rufous-brown ; superciliary stripe, very indistinct; chin, throat, and centre of belly, nearly white ; rest of under parts, light rufous-brown ; irides, brown ; bill, dark brown ; underneath, light brown ; legs, light horn colour. Length, about eight inches. The young show more red on the upper parts, and more fawn colour below. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 99 aquatic Marblcr. /0«A. UunCfi'J The Aquatic Warbler {Acrocephalus aijuaticiis^ Gmelin) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands, breeding in Central and Southern Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. It is supposed to winter in Africa. The adult bears a close resemblance to the sedge warbler {AcrocepJialus phrdgniiiis), but can readily be distinguished from that bird by its having only two broad, distinct, and conspicuous dark stripes on the crown, and beinc: less in size. lOO BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. flDeIo&(ou0 Marblcr. b- The Melodious Warbler {Hypolais polyglotta, Viell) has one British record, and is found inhabiting South-Western Europe and North-Western Africa. The adult male in summer is, above, greyish-olive, darker on head ; super- ciliary streak, yellowish ; wings and tail, browai, margined with lighter; beneath, pale yellow; sides of neck and flanks, tinged with pale brow^nish-olive ; irides, brown ; bill on upper part, brown ; underneath, yellowisli at base ; legs and feet, greyish-brown. Length, about four inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. loi Graeeboppcr Marblcr The Grasshopper Warbler {Locustella locustella, Latham) is a summer visitor to the British Isles, and found nesting in most parts of England and Wales ; it, however, becomes rarer northwards of Northumberland and Durham. It is distributed over the greater part of Europe, and is found as far north as St. Petersburg, wintering in Northern Africa, and it is said occasionally to winter in Southern Europe. The adult male has the upper parts olive-brown, with dark centres to the feathers; primaries and tail, brown, with faint bars on the latter ; beneath, pale brown ; neck and breast, spotted with darker brown ; dark centres on under tail-coverts ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, brown. Length, about five inches. The adult female closely resembles the male in colouration. I02 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Sa\)i^6 Marblcr, Savi's Warbler {Locustella luschiioides, Savi) at one time was a regular summer visitant to the Fen districts of England ; but, owing to the drainage of the marshes which it used to frequent, it is now in all probability extinct in the British Islands. Savi's warbler is locally distributed through Central and Southern Europe. The adult is uniform russet-brown above ; eye-stripe, indistinct; under parts, pale buffish-brown, shading into nearly white on the throat and centre of abdomen ; under tail-coverts, pale chestnut, with obscure pale tips ; irides, hazel ; bill, dark brown above, horn colour below ; legs, feet, and claws, light brown. Length, about five inches. The adult sexes are said to be alike. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 103 Scterine Marblcr. The Icterine Warbler {Hypolais hypolais^ Linnaeus) is a rare accidental spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, breeding in Northern and Central Europe. On migration, it passes through Southern Europe, spending the winter in Africa. The adult in summer is, above, olive -green ; eye-stripe and axillaries, greenish -yellow ; wings and tail, brown, with whitish margins : under parts, yellow, tinged with green ; iridcs, brown ; bill on upper mandible, brown ; beneath, horn colour ; legs and feet, greyish. Length, about five inches. The adult female is similar to the male. I04 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Song ?Cbru6b, The Song Thrush {Turdus vinsiciis^ Linnaeus) is generally distributed throughout the British Isles. It is more or less migratory in its habits, leaving in the late autumn and returning in early spring. The adult is dark olive- brown on the upper parts; eye -stripe, buff; quills and wing-coverts, margined with deep yellowish -brown, and there are buff tips to some of the feathers ; under parts, buff, shading into white on belly; sides of throat, chest, and remainder of body, profusely spotted and blotched with dark brown ; irides, legs, and feet, pale brown ; bill, dark brown. Length, about eight inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 05 flDi69el ^bru5b. The Missel Thrush {Tiirdus viscivonis, Einnnsus) is a resident and widely distributed species throughout the wooded districts of the British Islands. It is also found as a resident in most parts of temperate Europe. In those countries where the winters are severe, it migrates to South Europe and North Africa. The adult has the head and upper parts greyish-brown, tinged with rufous; rump, tinged with yellowish ; tail, ash-grey ; outer feathers, tipped with dull white; inner webs of outermost feathers, also whitish ; under parts, buffish-white, boldly spotted with large dark brown fan-shaped spots, becoming smaller and more triangular on the throat ; irides, dark brown ; bill, dark brown, base beneath paler ; legs, pale brown. Length, about eleven inches. The female closely resembles the male. io6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRebwiuQ. JuHA/ Du/v'cAr/. The Redwing {Tiirdus t'liacus, Linnaeus) is a common autumn and winter visitor to the British Isles, and breeds throughout most parts of the Northern Palearctic Region from Norway to the valley of the Yenisei. The adult can easily be distinguished from the song thrush {Turdus viusiciis) by its broad and well-defined white eye-stripe, and by the rich chestnut on the sides of the body, under wang- coverts, and axillaries. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. fielbfarc. The Fieldfare {2'u/dus pilaris, Linnicus) is a common autumn migrant to the British Isles; it also occurs during winter in Southern and Western Europe, and during the nesting time inhabits the northern pine regions of Europe and Asia. The adult male in summer has the head, neck, and rump grey, the colouration of the rump being brighter ; feathers on crown, marked with blackish centres; middle of back, wing-coverts, and scapulars, chestnut; wings and tail, blackish-brown, with narrow pale margins to the former; wings, lighter in colour than the tail; eye -stripe, whitish; cheeks, throat, and breast, ochreous-buff, streaked with black; flanks, marked boldly with blackish-l)rown; centre of abdomen, white; bill, yellow; irides, brown; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about ten inches. The female closely resembles the male. io8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Blachbirb. /O^A/ IJurJcAf^'^ ^^ The Blackbird {Mefiila iiie)ula, Linnasus) is a widely dis- tributed resident species in the British Islands. It is also a resident in most parts of Europe, the Azores, Northern Africa, and Palestine. In summer it visits those regions only which are immediately south of the Arctic Circle. The adult male has the whole of the plumage glossy black, with the exception of the primaries, which are a shade browner; irides, dark brown; bill, orange-yellow; legs and feet, dark brown. Length, from ten to eleven inches. The adult female is easily recognised by its umber-brown and rufous colouration. The young females are, above, blackish-brown, with most of the feathers streaked with pale rufous; under parts, light rufous-brown. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 109 IRing ®U3cL The Ring Ouzel {Merula iorquaia, Linnceus) is a summer visitor to the British Isles. It is also found in the mountainous regions of temperate Europe, and in winter is a resident in Northern and Central Africa, also in Asia Minor. The adult male in summer is blackish-brown on the upper and under parts of the body, the feathers mar- gined with paler more or less ; on the upper part of the breast there is a broad gorget of white ; axillaries, greyish- brown ; irides, dark brown ; bill, yellow ; legs and feet, brown. Length, between ten and eleven inches. The female is browner than tlie male ; the gorget is duller, being tinged with brownish. The young have the upi^er and under parts barred with l)ro\vn and black. no BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Blacft^'tbroatcb ®ii3cL The Black -throated Ouzel {Merula atrigidaris, Temminck) is an exceedingly rare autumn migrant to the British Islands, and breeds in Siberia, as far south in Asia as the Himalayas and Turkestan, and in winter south to Northern India and Persia. The adult male has the upper parts olive-brown ; throat and breast, black ; abdomen, white ; sides and flanks, greyish-brown ; tail, dark brown ; axillaries, rich chestnut ; irides, dark brown ; bill, dark brown on upper mandible, lighter below ; legs and feet, light brown. Length, about nine inches. The adult female lacks the black on the throat and breast, the feathers having dark centres; lower throat, uniform buffish-white. The young males are said to be similar to the adult females. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Mbite'5 (5roun& ZTbrusb. White's Ground Thrush {Geocichia varia, Pallas) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands from Southern Central Asia. The adult (which cannot well be confounded with any other of our British thrushes) has the upper parts of plumage olive-brown, with black tips to the feathers; under parts white, tinged with buff, and marked with black crescent-shaped spots ; the tail consists of four- teen feathers. Length, about twelve inches. 112 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Siberian (5roun& ^brueb* The Siberian Ground Thrush {Geocichla sidrica, Pallas)^ which is a very rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Isles, is a straggler from Northern Asia. The adult male has the general colour of the upper parts deep slate-grey, margined with paler ; central tail-feathers, dark slate-grey; rest, blackish, the two outer ones tipped with white ; eye-stripe, white and broad ; under parts, greyish, changing into white on centre of belly : under tail-coverts have white tips ; irides, deep brown ; bill, blackish ; legs BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. II and feet, pale brown. Length, about nine inches. The adult female is brownish on the upper plumage ; bufifish on breast, shading into white on belly; flanks, tinged with brown. 1Roch::^Zi:bru6b, The Rock-Thrush l^Moiiiicola saxati/is, Linnceus), which is an exceedingly rare spring migrant to the British Islands, is a summer visitant to certain portions of Central Europe and Siberia. The adult male has the scapulars blackish, tinged with blue ; middle of back, white ; head and neck, slate-blue ; wing-feathers, brown ; upper tail-coverts and tail, orange-chestnut ; the two central tail-feathers darker ; throat, greyish-blue ; remainder of under parts, orange- chestnut ; irides, hazel ; bill, black ; legs and feet, warm brown. Length, about eight inches. The adult female has mottlings of brown above and below ; throat, white, mottled with brown ; tail, lighter than in the male. 8 114 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRobin. The Robin {Erithacus tiibecula^ Linnaeus) is a well-known resident species in the British Islands. It is also a resident species in the temperate parts of Europe and Northern Africa. The adult male has the head and upper parts of body olive-brown ; forehead, throat, and upper portion of breast, rich orange-chestnut; sides of neck, pale bluish-grey; centre of belly, white ; flanks and under tail-coverts, buffish- brown; irides, black; bill, black; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about five inches. The female closely resembles the male. The young in first plumage have the upper and under parts yellowish-brown, with dark tips to the feathers. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 115 arctic Bluc^tbroatcb IRobin, ^LJ^_ l-jJ^& ' l ^i gf^^ ^p- ^uncA/n The Arctic Blue -throated Robin (Eril/iacus succica, Brehm) is an abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. There are, says Seebohm, three forms of this bird: — First, the Northern or Arctic form, with the spot in the centre of the throat red ; secondly, the South Euro- pean form, with the spot in the centre of the throat pure and silky white; and thirdly, the form of whicli the throat is uniform blue. Length, about five inches. ii6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRiQbtingalc. The Nightingale {^Erithacus biscinia^ Linnaeus) is another summer visitor to the British Isles, and is also met with in Central and Southern Europe. It makes its way into Africa to spend the winter. The adult has the upper parts russet-brown, shadmg into rusty-red on upper tail-coverts and tail; lores, buffish-white; beneath, buffish-white, shading into greyish-white on breast and flanks; axillaries and under wing-coverts, brownish -white; irides, hazel; bill, brown above, paler beneath; legs and feet, brown. Length, about six inches. The female closely resembles the male. The young in first plumage have pale centres to most of the feathers on upper parts; feathers of under parts have dark mar£(ins. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 117 IRebstart The Redstart {Ruticilla phcenicurus^ Linnaeus) is a summer visitant to the British Islands. It is also found breeding in Central and Northern Europe, south of the Arctic Circle, and in autumn migrates through Southern Europe to Northern Africa. The adult male has the forehead and eye-streak white; head and back, slate-grey; wings, brown, edged with paler brown ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, rich chestnut, with the exception of the two central feathers of latter, which arc brown margined with rufous ; breast and flanks, rich chestnut, shading into paler on abdomen; a narrow band at base of upper mandible, sides of face, sides of neck, and throat, rich black; irides, dark brown; bill, black; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about five inches. The female is in general colouration brown, with tail and vent dull chestnut. ii8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Blacft 1Re&6tavt The Black Redstart {Ruticilla tlihys, Scopoli) is a fairly regular winter visitor to the British Isles, mostly along the South Coast, including Cornwall, where it is frequently met with. It is a resident in some parts south of the Alps, but in winter the majority migrate to Northern Africa. The adult male has the general colouration of the plumage slate-grey ; wings, brown, with white margins on the out- side webs of the secondaries ; rump, upper and under tail- coverts, bright chestnut ; central feathers of the tail, brown, externally margined with bright chestnut ; frontal band and lores, black; chin, throat, cheeks, and breast, black; belly and flanks, huffish ; irides, brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about six inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 119 Mbeatean y^>'^-'-^^-_j^a..,t:!«V ^ — The Wheatear {Saxicola a7ianthe^ Linnaeus) is a spring visitor to the British Isles. In summer it is said to be a "visitant to Central and Northern Europe, extending to Iceland and Greenland, and eastwards throughout Northern Siberia. In winter it ranges from Western and Northern Africa to Persia and Northern India." The adult male in summer has the upper parts bluish-grey ; wings, brownish- black ; lower portion of neck and breast, warm buff; eye- stripe, forehead, and rump, white; sides of face, black; abdomen and vent, white ; the two centre tail-feathers, blackish-brown, nearly to the base ; remainder white, tipped broadly with black ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, between five and six inches. The female has the plumage sandy-brown, deepest above ; the wings and tail resemble those of the male in colouration. The young are like the female, but show spots on upper and under parts. I20 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 36abeUine Mbeatcar. JoHr/ Du/^CAf/. The Isabelline Wheatear {Saxicola Isabellina, Ruppell), which is an extremely rare autumn migrant to the British Islands, is a resident in North-East Africa (from Abyssinia to Egypt) and Palestine. It nests also in South -East Russia and temperate Asia, and in winter migrates south- ward. Howard Saunders says that this wheatear may easily be mistaken for the female of the common wheatear, but the broader lining to the quills will always distinguish it. According to Bowdler Sharpe, it is also longer in the tarsus. Length, about six inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 21 Blacft*tbroate5 Mbcatcar. The Black-throated Wheatear {Saxicoia stapazina^ Vieillot) is a very rare aV;normal migrant to the British Isles ; it also occurs in the South of France and Spain, and is a resident in North-West Africa. The male is described as having the head and back sandy-rufous ; rump, white ; upper and under parts of wings, black. Length, about five inches. 122 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Dc0ert Mbcatear John IJunca.k The Desert Wheatear {Saxicola desertt, Temminck) is a rare autumn migrant to the British Islands. During sum- mer it occurs in Algeria, Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine, and in winter it ranges through Abyssinia to North-West India. The adult male in summer has the general colour of the upper parts buff, changing into white on rump and upper tail-coverts ; tail, black, with white bases ; superciliary stripe, whitish; cheeks, throat, and sides of neck, black; wings, blackish-brown, with pale tips; under parts, white, with a tinge of sandy-rufous on chest and flanks ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, from five to six inches. In this species the feet are very small. The adult female in summer has no black on the throat. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 123 Mbiucbat. m'^W' The Whinchat {Pratincola rubeira, Linnaeus) is a fairly well distributed summer visitant to the British Islands. It spends the summer throughout temperate Europe, and in winter is a resident in Northern Africa. The adult male has the crown of the head, back, and wing-coverts, brownish-black ; the feathers margined with ochreous- yellow; spot on bastard wing, white; a white line passes from the base of the bill over the eyes reaching to the nape of the neck ; ear-coverts and cheeks, brownish-black ; chin and a streak along the sides of the neck, white ; rump, yellowish-brown, with streaks of blackish-brown ; tail, dark brown, with bases of all outermost feathers white ; centre of throat and breast, fawn colour, shading into pale buff on belly; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Lengtli, about five inches. 124 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Stonccbat ''':^ The Stonechat {Pratincola ruMcola, Linnreus) is a somewhat generally dispersed resident, and partially migratory, species in the British Islands. It is also found inhabiting the temperate parts of Europe west of the Volga. During the winter it is a resident in Africa. The adult male in nuptial plumage has the sides of the neck and upper parts of wings white ; rump, white, with dark centres and rufous margins ; tail, black, with brown margins ; back, black, feathers margined with yellowish-brown ; wings, brownish-black ; sides of face and throat, black ; under parts, rufous-brown ; abdomen, yellowish-white ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about five inches. The female is brown in the upper part, streaked with darker brown; rump, brown, tinged with red; the throat shows black mottlings. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 25 Ibebgc accentor- The Hedge Accentor (yAcceiitor modularise Linnaeus) is a very generally distributed resident in the British Isles. It is also a resident species throughout most portions of Europe, and is met with in Scandinavia as far as the limits of forest growth. The adult male has the top of the head and nape greyish-brown, streaked with brown ; sides of the neck, throat, and breast, bluish-grey; back and scapulars, blackish, with broad margins of reddish-brown ; primaries, dark brown, edged and tipped with a lighter shade of brown ; tail, dull brown, margined with paler ; rump, yellowish ; chin, whitish-grey ; centre of belly, greyish- white ; flanks, pale brown, streaked with darker brown :. irides, hazel; bill, legs, and feet, pale brown. Length, about five inches. The female closely resembles the male. 126 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. aipine accentor. The Alpine Accentor {Accentor alpinus^ Gmelin), which is a rare straggler during autumn to the British Isles, is a resident in the mountain ranges of Southern Europe. The adult male has the upper parts dark brown, edged with light brown ; head and neck, grey, with darker streaks ; wings and tail, blackish-brown, margined with chestnut- brown, and tipped with white; wing-coverts, prominently tipped with white ; throat, white, with black spots ; breast and under tail-coverts, dullish grey ; flanks, variegated with chestnut and light huffish ; irides, brown ; bill, blackish- brown ; base below, yellow ; legs and feet, warm brown. Length, about seven inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 127 Bippcn ^ -^ Z}:>o/vc/tv The Dipper {Cindiis aqiiaticus, Bechstein) is a resident in the British Islands. It is also found, subject to some slight modification of colour, in many of the moun- tain regions of Central Europe. The adult has the head and back of neck umber-brown ; remainder of upper parts, dark slaty-grey, with paler margins to feathers on the back; throat, sides of neck, and upper breast, white; lower part of breast and abdomen, chestnut-brown, shading into brownish-black towards the vent; under tail-coverts, blackish, tinged with grey ; flanks, greyish ; irides, brown ; bill, black; legs and feet, brown. Length, from six to seven inches. The female is similar in colour to the male. The young arc greyish-brown on upper parts, and chestnut- brown on under parts absent. 128 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 3Black:^benicb Dipper. ' ■'/' JohaI UuNCA!/. The Black -bellied Dipper {Cinchis aquaticus inelanogaster, Brehm) is a rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands ; it also occurs in Scandinavia, Northern Germany, and Northern Russia. The adult male is similar in coloura- tion to the common dipper, Cinclus aquaticus, with the exception that the breast is black or nearly black, and not chestnut-brown as in the latter bird. Indeed, the black- bellied dipper is considered merely a form of the common dipper. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 129 Common Mrcn. The Common Wren {^Troglodytes parvulus^ Koch) is a widely and generally distributed resident species in the British Islands. It is also a common resident in most parts of temperate Europe, and occurs in Northern Africa and Western Asia. The adult has the general colour above, dark reddish-brown, barred with dark brown; eye- stripe, whitish; rump, rufous-brown; wings and tail, rufous- brown; under parts, buffish-white; abdomen and flanks, tinged with brownish, and transversely barred with brown ; irides, brown; bill, brown; legs and feet, pale brown. Length, about four inches. The female resembles the male. The young are similar in ground colour to the female, but the plumage is less barred. I30 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. St Ikilba Mrcn. JofiAf Ui/r/CA.V^, The St. Kilda Wren {Troglodytes hirtensis^ Seebohm) is a resident species on the islands of St. Kilda, Scotland. To Mr. Charles Dixon, the well-known naturalist, is due the honour of having brought from St. Kilda the speci- mens originally described by the late Henry Seebohm. The adult male closely resembles the common wren, but is superior in size, and the feet are much stronger and larger. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 131 Spottc5 3fl^catcber. The Spotted Flycatcher {Musicapa grisola, Linnceus) is a late summer migrant to the British Islands. It is found nesting almost everywhere in Europe, and winters in Africa. The adult male in breeding plumage has the upper parts of the body pale hair-brown, the crown of the head having darker centres to the feathers ; wings and tail, darker brown ; throat and centre of abdomen, white ; sides of neck, breast, and flanks, streaked with hair-brown ; irides, brown ; bill, dark brown; legs and feet, black. Length, about five inches. The female is similar to the male. The youni; have the feathers of the upper parts marked in centre with buff. 132 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IPicb 3fl^catcbei\ The Pied Flycatcher {Musica_pa atricapilla, Linnaeus) is a spring visitor to the British Islands. It is found breeding in Europe south of the Arctic Circle, and spends the winter in Central Africa. The adult male in summer has the head and upper parts of body black; rump, greyish; forehead, sides of neck, and under parts, pure white; wings, brown; innermost secondaries, edged broadly with white; central coverts, white; tail, blackish; outermost feathers, partially white; irides, brown; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about five inches. The female is much more dingy in colouration than the male. The young in nestling plumage are spotted on the upper parts with buff; under parts, spotted irregularly with blackish-brown. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 133 1ReC)::*brea0tet) ]fl^catcber. The Red-breasted Flycatcher {Musicapa parva, Bechstein) is an occasional autumn migrant to the British Isles, occurring also in both Central and South-Eastern Europe, and as far to the east as India, wintering in Northern Africa. The adult male in summer has the general coloura- tion of the upper parts of plumage olive- brown; crown, nape, and cheeks, bluish-grey, paler on latter; two middle tail-feathers, blackish-brown; base of outer ones, white; terminal end, broadly tipped with blackish-brown; throat and breast, deep orange with a reddish tinge and fringed with greyish; remainder of under parts, white, washed on flanks and under tail-coverts with creamy-buff; irides, hazel; bill, brown, lighter at base; legs and feet, brown. Length, from four to five inches. The female in general resembles the male, but the throat is buff. 134 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Barn Swallow. The Barn Swallow {IJiru?ido rustica, Linnaeus) is a well- known summer visitant to the British Isles. It is also a common visitor to Europe during summer, and passes the winter in Ethiopia and India. The adult male has the fore- head and throat rich chestnut; sides of neck, back, wings, and a broad band across breast, deep blue, with purplish reflections; wings and tail, brown, outer webs glossed with bluish-green; all tail-feathers, with the exception of centre ones, have a mesial spot of white; abdomen, light buff; under tail-coverts, pale chestnut; irides, brown; bill, legs, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 135 and feet, black. Length, about seven inches. The female shows less chestnut on the forehead, and the two outer tail- feathers are shorter than in the male. Ibouse flDartin. The House Martin {Chelidon urbica^ Linnivjus) is a summer migrant to the British Isles. It nests throughout most parts of Europe and Northern Africa, and is found in winter south of Abyssinia. The adult has the head, neck, and back bright glossy bluish - black ; rump, white; wings and tail, dullish black; under parts, white; irides, dark hazel; bill, black; legs and feet covered witli white feathers. 136 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Length, about five inches. The female closely resembles the male in colouration. The young are sooty-brown on the upper parts ; rump and under parts, dullish white. SanJ) fIDartin. .-;r:3^^^?i^;;^«?^r-^ The Sand Martin {Cotyle riparia^ Linnseus) is a spring visitant to the British Islands. It is also a visitor to every part of the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions ; and is found during winter in India, Africa, and South America. The adult male has the upper parts, cheeks, and a band across chest, hair-brown ; primaries and tail-feathers, darker brown ; throat and abdomen, whitish; flanks, brownish; irides, hazel; bill, black ; legs and feet, dark brown. Length, about five inches. The female is the same in plumage as the male. The young have the feathers above tipped with whitish; under parts, washed with buff. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 137 purple flDartiit The Purple Martin {Progne purpurea, Linnceus) is a rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and a summer visitant to the United States and Canada, moving northwards above the Arctic Circle. It spends the winter in Mexico, and is said to have been met with in the Ber- mudas. The adult male has the general colouration of the plumage steel-blue, with purple reflections ; wings and tail, black, tinged with blue ; irides, brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brown. The female closely resembles the male, but the colouration is duller, and the under parts are of a greyish-brown. Tlie young birds are described as being similar to the adult females. 138 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Mri?nccR, ^ UNCA A/ -" ^^^2^^ The Wryneck ( Yimx torquilla^ Linnaeus) is a spring visitor to the British Isles ; it is also found inhabiting the Pale- arctic Region, with the exception of the extreme north, wintering in Northern Africa, India, and China. The adult has the ground colour above, yellowish-grey, beautifully mottled and vermiculated with blackish-brown ; wings, brown, having dull chestnut bars on the outer webs ; under parts, buff, with a dark brown subterminal spot or bar on each feather; tail, ashy-brown, vermiculated and barred with black; irides, pale brown; bill, legs, and feet, brown. Length, between six and seven inches. The female is similar to the male. The young are duller above, and conspicuously marked underneath with black. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 139 6vccn Moobpcckcr The Green ^^'oodpecker {Gecijius viridis, Linnceus) is a resident species in the British Islands, and also met with in the Western Palearctic Region ; northwards to South Scandinavia, and ranging southwards to the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees. The adult male has the crown of the head and nape scarlet, with grey bases ; lores, cheeks, ear- coverts, and feathers round eye, black ; moustachial band, black, washed with crimson ; mantle, dull light green ; rump, yellow; wings and tail, dark greenish-brown, the latter obscurely barred with darker; primaries, dusky, barred on outer web with white ; under parts, yellowish- grey, tinged with greyish-green ; irides, whitish ; bill, dark grey, blackish at tip and paler at base beneath ; legs and feet, dark grey. Length, between eleven and twelve inches. The female shows no scarlet on the moustacliial lines. I40 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. %CBBCV Spotteb Moobpccl^en J:>Uf^CfiH The Eesser Spotted Woodpecker {Ficus niiiior^ Linnaeus) is a resident species in the British! Islands; it is also a resident in most parts of the Western Palearctic Region, but is said not to occur in Egypt, Palestine, Iceland, or the Faroes. The adult male has the upper parts black, with broad bars of white ; central tail-feathers, black, remainder, black, with white bars; forehead, buff; crown, crimson; eye-streak, occiput, and nape, black ; moustache, black ; cheeks and sides of face, white ; chin, throat, and breast, dull white, tinged with brown on sides ; flanks, streaked with black ; irides, reddish-brown ; bill, legs, and feet, dark grey. Length, about five inches. The female shows no red on the crown. The young are similar to adults, but the markings are not so distinct. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 141 (Brcat Spottct) MooDpcclKr The Great Spotted Woodpecker {Ficus iiiajor^ Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Isles, and is also pretty gener- ally distributed throughout the whole of the European Continent. The adult male has the general plumage of the upper parts black ; foreliead, white ; cheeks and ear- coverts also white ; nape, crimson ; a broad black band runs from base of bill to nape; another band of black traverses sides of chest ; scapulars, white ; primaries and secondaries, barred exteriorly with white ; on each side of the back part of the neck is a white patch ; throat, breast, and abdomen, whitish ; vent and under tail-coverts, crimson ; rump and central tail-feathers, black ; outer ones with alternate bars of black and white ; irides, pale red; bill, legs, and feet, slaty-black. Length, about nine inches. The female shows no red on the head. 142 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Cx\c\{oo. The Cuckoo (yCumhis canorns^ Linnaeus) is a well-known spring migrant to the British Isles. It is also a summer visitor to Europe, as well as most portions of Asia. In the autumn it migrates to Central Africa and Southern India. The adult male has the head, neck behind, nape and back, dark ash colour; wing-coverts, darker ash colour; primaries, dusky, with oval white spots on the inner webs ; tail, blackish, with some of the webs spotted with white, and all the tail-feathers tipped with white; throat and upper breast, pale ash colour ; under parts, dullish white, with transverse black bars; irides and feet, yellow; bill, dusky; base beneath, yellowish. Length, about thirteen inches. The female is similar to male. The young on upper parts are warm brown with darker transverse markings. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 143 (Sreat Spotteb Cuckoo. The Great Spotted Cuckoo {CoccysfesgIandan'ifs,\Anv\?QVLs) is a very rare straggling spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is also found inhabiting South-West Europe and North Africa. The adult male has the upper parts greyish- brown, most of the feathers being tipped with white ; crest and crown, grey ; sides of face, dark grey ; tail-feathers, blackish-brown, with white tips to all but the central ones ; neck, creamy-white ; under parts, dullish white ; irides, brown ; bill, dark brown ; base beneath, yellowish ; legs and feet, slate-grey. Length, from sixteen to seventeen inches. The adult female has a smaller crest, and the ground colour of the primaries is rufous. The young are similar to the adult females, but show little crest ; and the under parts are washed with chestnut. 144 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. The Black-billed Cuckoo [Coccyzus erythrophthalmus^ Wilson) is an exceedingly rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles. It is a North American species, ranging from Canada to Brazil. In winter it migrates from the northern portions of Canada. This cuckoo can be dis- tinguished from Coccyziis Americanus^ being slightly less in size, and showing very little chestnut on the quills. The bill is nearly black ; the orbits, dull scarlet ; and the white tips at the end of the tail are much less conspicuous. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 145 15cUow^t)illc& Cucftoo< JJutiCAN- The Yellow-billed Cuckoo {Coccyzits Anicricanus, Linnaeus) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands. It inhabits America, from (Canada south to Brazil, and in winter migrates from the northern portions. The general colouration of the upper [larts is huffish-brown, glossed with greenish ; two central tail-feathers, buffish- hrown ; remainder, nearly black, tipped broadly with white ; quills, tinged with pale yellowish-chestnut; under parts. 146 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. white; orbits, whitish; irides, dark brown; upper mandible, blackish, with a yellow base ; under mandible, yellow, with a nearly black tip ; legs and feet, grey. Common Swift. The Common Swift {Cypselus apus, Linnaeus) is a late summer migrant to the British Isles, and is also a visitor in summer to most parts of the Palearctic Region. It spends the winter in Africa. The adult has the general colour of the upper parts of plumage blackish-brown, with bronze-like reflections ; chin and throat, duUish white ; under parts, blackish-brown ; irides, dark brown ; bill and feet, black; tarsi, covered with small feathers. Length, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 147 about eight inches. The female is same in colour as the male. The young are browner, and dullish white on the chin and throat. Mbite*bclUe^ Swift, The White-bellied Swift {Cy/>selus mclba^ Linnceus) is a rare spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. In summer it visits Central and Southern Europe, also Northern Africa, spending the winter in Africa. The adult has the upper parts greyish-brown ; forehead, paler, with a blackish patch in front of the eye; throat and abdomen, white; under tail-coverts, greyish-brown; irides, nearly black; bill and feet, black. Length, about eight inches. The young are similar to the adults, but have whitish margins to most of the upper feathers. 148 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRceMCs^tailct) Swift. The Needle-tailed Swift {Chcetura caudacufa, Latham) is an exceedingly rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting Eastern Siberia, China, and the Himalayas. It occurs during winter in Australia. The forehead of the adult is dull white ; crown, nape, back, and sides of head, dusky black; wing-coverts and secondaries, bottle-green ; inner webs of inner secondaries, mostly white ; quills, blackish ; tail-feathers, bottle-green, with projecting spinous shafts; throat, breast, and under tail-coverts, white ; abdomen, sooty brown ; flanks, white, marked with glossy blue-black ; bill, black ; legs and feet, dark brown. Length, about eight inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 149 Contmou migbtjar >,.. . .^^'ii'^f^t/....<.\.\ *)r^Sr^f/nKUnS\S The Common Nightjar ^Caprimulgiis Eiiropceus^ Linnaeus) is another of our latest summer visitors to the British Isles. It is also found during summer in the Western Palearctic Region, and in winter goes to Africa and India. The adult male has the general colouration of the plumage of an ashy-grey, spotted and streaked with dark brown, yellowish- brown, and reddish-buff; wings, dark brown, tinged slightly with chestnut, and showing three bars of yellowish-brown ; the primaries have a large white patch near the centre of the three first quill feathers of each wing; tail, marked with zigzag bars of black, yellowish-brown, and grey ; two outer rectrices on each side, tipped with white ; on each side of the throat is a white spot; under parts, light orange-buff, barred with dusky ; irides and bill, black ; legs and feet, brownish-red. Length, ten inches. The female is duller; white spots on the tail and wings very indistinct. I50 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. The Red-necked Nightjar {Caprimnlgus ruficolHs^ Linnaeus) is an exceptionally rare migrant to the British Isles. It is also met with in South-West Europe and North-West Africa. This nightjar bears a strong resemblance to the common nightjar, but it can be distinguished from the latter by the colour of the nape, which is reddish-buff. The white spots on the neck, too, are larger, and have more creamy colour on the wing-coverts and under parts. EQ^ptian IRigbtjan The Egyptian Nightjar {Caprimulgus yEgyptms, Lichten- stein) is a very rare abnormal spring migrant to the British Islands. In summer it is found in Turkestan, Baluchistan, Egypt, and Nubia; and is supposed to winter farther south. The ground colour of the whole of the adult's plumage is BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 151 isabelline, or sandy-grey, dusted and otherwise marked with white, grey, and brown. The general colouration is much lighter than that of Caprimulgus Eiiropceus. Length, about ten inches. SSecs^eater. ;4::^?^-^>^^^^:;;;^^ The Bee-eater {Merops apiaster^ Linnaeus) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is a visitor in summer to countries adjacent to the Mediterranean, in winter migrating to Africa. The adult has the top of the head, nape, back, and wing- coverts, rich chestnut brown, changing into light greenish- blue on upper tail-coverts ; tail, greenish or bluish ; two centre pair of rectrices elongated and tipped with black ; lores and auriculars, black ; chin and throat, deep yellow, with a band of black underneath ; scapulars, whitish ; secondaries, chestnut, with broad tips of black ; quills, bluish-green, tipped with black ; under parts, blue, tinged T52 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. with green ; irides, scarlet ; bill, black ; legs and feet, reddish-brown. Length, about ten inches. The adult female is duller in colour than the male. The young have the throat band indistinct, and the central tail-feathers hardly project. iRoUcr. XJo/VC/f'* The Roller {Coracias garriilus, Linnaeus) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and a visitant in summer to the temperate portions of Europe, migrating into Africa in autumn. The adult male has the back and scapulars reddish-brown; head and nape, greenish-blue; rump, blue; upper tail-coverts, greenish- blue; tail, light greenish-blue, the outer rectrices with black tips; middle feathers, darker; primaries, black, glossed with blue; upper wing-coverts, rich blue; chin, white; remainder of under parts, pale blue; irides, brown; bill, black; legs BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 153 and feet, warm brown. Length, about twelve inches. The adult female resembles the male. The young are more dingy in colour than the adults. Iboopoe. i^^::^,.^^^ The Hoopoe {Upiipa epops^ Linnaeus), which is a visitor in summer to the British Isles and to most of the temperate portions of the Palearctic Region, passes the winter in C.'entral Africa and India. The adult male has the general tint of the plumage pale reddish-buff; crest feathers, richer in tint, and tipped with black; rump, white; tail, black, having a broad white band in the centre; wings, black with white bars; abdomen and under tail-coverts, white with dark brown stripes on flanks; iridcs, light brown; bill, which is slightly decurved, black; base of lower mandible, flesh-coloured; legs, feet, and claws, dark brown. Length, 154 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. about twelve inches The female is like the male, but the colours are not quite so bright. The young resemble the adults, but the bill is considerably shorter, and the under parts are paler in colour. Common Ikingfieber The Common Kingfisher {Akedo ispida^ Linn^us) is a resident species in the British Islands, and is also found throughout the year in the temperate parts of the Western Palearctic Region. The adult male has the top of the head black, closely barred or spotted with bright cobalt -blue, tinged with greenish; centre of back, azure-blue; tail, deep blue; moustachial line, greenish-blue, marked with cobalt- blue, yellowish; lores and ear-coverts, chestnut; wing- coverts, dark green, with spots of cobalt; outer webs of primaries, deep blue; throat, white; under parts, yellowish- chestnut; irides, dark brown; bill, black, base, reddish; legs and feet, red. Length, from five to six inches. The adult female is duller in plumage than the male; bill, orange at base beneath. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 155 SSelteb Ikingfiebcr John DiH^CrM/ The Belted Kingfisher {Ceryle akyofi^ Linnaeus) is a very rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands. This bird hails from North America, and is partially migratory during winter. The general colour of the male above is slaty-blue ; shaft of each feather, blackish ; the head is furnished with a crest ; a white spot before the eye, and a streak of the same beneath it ; quills, basal half, white ; secondaries and wing-coverts, tipped with white ; two centre tail-feathers, bluish ; remainder, brownish-black, barred with white ; a broad collar of white reaches from the throat over the sides of the neck ; chest band, slaty- blue; under parts, white; irides, dark brown; bill, black; legs and feet, brownish. Length, about twelve inches. 156 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ffiarn ®wL T,.p/^y(Wfj^Mi^'^^^^^^ The Barn Owl (A/uco flammeus, Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Isles and in most parts of Europe, but does not occur in Norway, the north of Sweden, Russia, or on the north-eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The adult is buffish-orange above, spotted longitudinally with dark brown and faint grey and white pencillings ; discs of face, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 157 white, edged with reddish ; breast, huffish, with faint dusky spots on flanks ; tail, buff, with four or five darkish grey bars ; tips of tail-feathers, white ; irides, blackish ; bill, pale straw colour ; claws, dark grey ; legs, feathered. Length, from twelve to thirteen inches. The female has the same colouration as the male, but is slightly larger. Moo^ ®wi. The Wood Owl {S/r/.x aluco^ Gcrini) is another of our resident owls, but is not so plentiful as formerly; it is also a resident in the Western Palearctic Region. The adult has the upper parts reddish-brown, vermiculated and i=;8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. spotted with blackish and dark brown ; outer webs of wing-coverts have large subterminal white spots ; facial disc and forehead, dark brown ; under parts, buffish-white, streaked with dusky-brown and barred with brown ; irides, black ; bill, straw colour ; legs and feet, feathered. Length, about fifteen inches. The female only differs in being larger. The young are usually more rufous than the adults. This owl is also subject to much variation in tint of plumage. Short-eared Owl. The Short-eared Owl {Asio brachyoiiis^ Forster) is a regular autumn and winter visitor to the British Isles, and a few breed with us in various parts. It is also found in most parts of the Palearctic Region, as well as in the Nearctic Region. The adult has the general colour dark rich buff; wings and tail, barred transversely with dark brown ; ear-tufts, short ; ring round face, blackish ; upper parts streaked and patched with dark brown ; under parts, buffish-white, streaked longi- tudinally on breast and flanks with dusky-brown ; irides, yellow ; bill and claws, blackish ; legs and feet, feathered. Length, from fourteen to fifteen inches. The female re- sembles the male, but is a trifle larger. (P. 159.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 159 Sbort*=carcb ®wl JchN VuNCA/V. i6o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Xono^eareb ®wL The Long-eared Owl {Asio olus, Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Isles, also in most parts of the Western Pale- arctic Region, as well as in Central Asia. The adult has the general colour of the upper parts yellowish-buff, vermiculated and mottled with various tints of brown; ear-tufts, con- spicuously long, marked in centre with black, and margined with buff; ring encircling eyes, blackish ; throat, breast, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. i6i and flanks, striped with brown ; stripes on flanks, narrower ; wings and tail, barred with brown ; irides, rich yellow ; bill, black ; legs and feet, covered with huffish coloured downy feathers. Length, about fourteen inches. The female differs only in being larger and a little more rufous in colour. The young are similar to the adults. Teng malm's Owl. Tengmalm's Owl {Nyciala Tengmalmi, Gmelin) is a rare autumn migrant to the British Isles. It is a resident in the northern parts of the Palearctic Region, and is also met with in Central Europe, The adult has the upper parts brown, more or less spotted with white ; the spots on the top of the head are small, those on the wing- coverts and back are larger ; tail-feathers, barred with white ; under parts, white, washed with pale buff and greyish, and marked with irregular bars and streaks of dark brown ; irides, vivid yellow ; bill, straw colour ; feet, covered with whitish feathers. Length, about nine inches. The female is a little larger than the male. (P. 162.) i62 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. vlencjmalnVs ©wL 'JoHtJ JluNCAri: BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Xlttle ®wl 163 JOH/V 2Ju/v CA/V.'^ The Little Owl (^Athene ?iociiia, Scopoli) is a rare abnormal migrant to the British Islands, and is; a resident in Europe south of Scandinavia. The adult has the upper parts of the plumage greyish-brown ; back and wings, spotted with white ; head, striped with white ; tail, barred with white and tinged with rusty ; under parts, white, with broad streaks of brown ; irides, yellow ; bill, yellowish ; the toes have a covering of hairy bristles. Length, about eight inches. The female is a trifle larger than the male. The plumage of the young is of a warmer hue than that of the adults. i64 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. John Duncan. The Snowy Owl {Nyciea nydea, Linnaeus) is a regular, though uncertain, autumn migrant to the British Islands. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 165 It is a resident in the extreme north of the Palearctic and also Nearctic Regions, and in winter is met with farther south. The adult male has the whole of the plumage white, with a few spots of dark brown here and there on the upper parts ; irides, rich yellow ; legs and feet, clothed with long white feathers. Length, from nineteen to twenty- four inches. Hawk Owl. The Hawk Owl {Surfiia funerea, Linnaeus) is an exceed- ingly rare wandering winter migrant to the British Islands. It inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region, and in winter moves southward to the northern portion of the United States. The adult has the general colouration of the upper plumage blackish-brown, blotched, mottled, and barred with dullish white; under parts, white, with bars of reddish- brown ; tail, graduated, and marked with narrow bars of white, and broadly tipped with white ; irides, pale yellow ; bill, straw colour ; legs and feet, covered with whitish feathers. Length, from fifteen to sixteen inches. The female is larger than the male. (P. 166.) 1 66 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Ibawft ®wl. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 167 Scope ®\\)L Jo HA/ Uu/^CA/V, I i68 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (See preceding page.) The Scops Owl {Scops scops, Linnaeus) is a rare straggler in spring and autumn to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the temperate parts of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. The adult is greyish above, each feather having a dark centre and vermiculated with different tints of brown ; tail-feathers have bars of light and dark brown ; ear-tufts, pretty well developed ; under parts, grey, suffused with rich buff, streaked and finely vermiculated with brown ; irides, orange-yellow ; bill, black ; feet, not feathered. Length, about seven inches. The female resembles the male. The young show more rufous than the adults. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 69 lEaolc ®wL lyo BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ( See preceding page.) The Eagle Owl {Bubo maxunus, Gerini) is a rare nomadic winter migrant to the British Islands, and is a resident in most portions of the Palearctic Region. The adult has the upper surface barred, streaked, and waved with black on a brown and yellow ground ; ear-tufts, large ; throat, white ; under parts, yellowish-buff, with longitudinal streaks of black on the chest, and fine transverse bars below ; irides, rich orange ; beak, black ; legs, feathered. Length of male, about twenty-four inches. Length of the female, about twenty-eight inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 171 (Bnffon Dulture^ ^. ■ V\^V 172 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (See p7 cceding page. ) The Griffon Vulture {Gyps fulvus, Brisson) is a very rare irregular migrant to the British Isles. It is a resident in Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and in portions of Central Asia ; besides being met with casually in Northern Europe. The adult has the general colouration of the plumage buffish-brown ; wings and tail, blackish-brown ; some of the wing-coverts with dark centres ; under part, reddish-brown washed with yellow ; head and neck, covered with white down ; ruff round neck, w^hite ; irides, deep orange ; bill, light brown ; legs and feet, lead colour. Length, from forty-two to forty-eight inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 173 leg^ptian IDulture. ''" John J1unca/\/. The Egyptian Vulture {Neophron percnopkrus, Einiicxus) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting European countries which border on the Mediterranean, as well as Africa and South-Western 174 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Asia. In Northern Europe it is only of rare occurrence. The adult is, above and below, chiefly white, tinged with pale yellowish buff; secondaries, brownish; quills, black; the portion of the head and neck which is bare of feathers is of a yellowish tinge ; irides, deep red ; bill, dark brown ; legs and feet, flesh tint. Length, from twenty-five to twenty- seven inches. White Jer-Falcon. The \Vhite Jer-Falcon {Hierofalco candicans^ Gmelin), also called the Greenland Falcon, is a rare nomadic winter migrant to the British Isles. It is supposed to be a resident throughout most of the Circumpolar Region, and is casually met with farther south. The adult has the whole of the ground colour of the plumage white; feathers on back and wing -coverts have bold spots of blackish-brown ; quills have subterminal bars of black ; tail has a few dark bars in places ; under parts, spotted here and there with blackish-brown; irides, hazel; bill, bluish near the tip, otherwise yellowish ; legs and feet, light yellow. Length, from nineteen to twenty-one inches. ^ BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 199 The Honey Buzzard {Fernis apivonis^ Linnaeus) is only a summer visitor to the British Isles, and also is met with in the Palearctic and Ethiopian Regions; in the extreme north of Europe, however, it appears not to occur, and is found on the Mediterranean shores only as a migrant. The adult male has the upper parts brown ; tail with three or four distinct blackish bars ; head, ashy-grey ; under parts, white, blotched and barred with dark brown; irides, yellow; bill, blackish ; cere and feet, yellow. Length, about twenty- two inches. The female is browner on head and larger in size than male. The young is whitish on head ; upper feathers, with pale edges ; under parts, white with streaks of brown. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common :i6u33ar&. ^^yjoHN^ BuNCA N. %^^^^*^^^ Jo/iA/ DuNCA// BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 211 The Hen Harrier {Circus cyaneus, Linneeus) is for the most part a summer visitor to the British Islands. It is also met with throughout Europe, and most parts of Asia, and some portions of Northern Africa. The adult male has the upper parts light slate-grey; nape, marked with brown; rump, white ; primaries, blackish ; inner webs of secondaries, mostly white ; throat and chest, greyish ; abdomen, white ; irides, cere, and legs, yellow; bill, bluish -black. Length, about eighteen inches. The female is a trifle larger than the male, and is brown above, with white streaks on nape ; irides, brown; tail, brown, showing five darker-coloured bars. 212 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. fIDareb Ibarner. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 213 The ]\Iarsh Harrier {Circus cerjigiftosus, Linnaeus) is said to be a probable resident species in the British Islands. Throughout most parts of Europe it is a resident, but does not occur in the extreme north ; it is, however, met with across Asia to Japan, and in many parts of Africa. The adult male has the head and nape white, tinged with yellowish, and with streaks of dark brown ; feathers of back and scapulars, dark brown, the latter shaded ob- scurely with lighter brown ; tail, light grey ; primaries, blackish ; remainder of wings, light grey ; chin and throat, white, tinged with buff; rest of under parts, brown, tinged with rusty; lower part of chest has conspicuous marks of dark brown ; irides, pale yellowish ; bill, bluish-slate ; cere, legs, and feet, yellow. Length, from nineteen to twenty- three inches. 2 14 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ®6prei?» JohH Dunc/^n'. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 215 The Osprey i^Pandioii haliactus^ Linnaeus) is a summer visitor to the British Islands, and is also met with in most parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. In South America it occurs as far south as Brazil. The adult male has the head and nape white, with broad streaks of brown ; remainder of upper parts, dark brown, tinged with purplish : beneath, white, crossed on the chest with a broad band of light brown ; irides, yellow ; bill, black ; cere, legs, and toes, bluish. Length, from twenty-one to twenty-two inches. The female is larger than the male, and has the crest more streaked and the chest band more produced. 2i6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Cormorant t//9///\/ Uu/^CAU. J: The Cormorant {Phalacrocorax cardo, Linnaeus) is a resident species in the British Islands, and is also found inhabiting most sea-coasts with the exception of those of the Western Pacific. The adult in summer dress has the back and wing-coverts dark greenish-brown, margined with black ; primaries and tail, black, the latter having fourteen feathers ; upper portion of head and neck, black ; feathers of crown, elongated ; those on neck mixed with hair-like feathers ; throat, white ; gular pouch, yellow ; under parts, rich black, a white patch on the thigh (said to be assumed very early in spring and lost in summer) ; irides, green ; bill, brown ; legs and feet, black. Length, from thirty-four BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 217 to thirty-six inches. The female resembles male. The young are dark brown above, with a bronze tinge ; under parts, brownish-white, variegated with darker brown. Sbag. JoHf^ UmcA/v Thp: Shag {Phahicrocorax gracuius, Linnxnis) is a resident in the British Isles, but shifts locally about a great deal during autumn and winter ; it is also an inhabitant of Western Europe. The adult in summer has the general colour rich dark green, wilii reflections of bronze and purple; feathers of back, margined witii black; primaries 21 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. and tail, black (the latter has twelve feathers) ; crest (which is assumed in early spring and said to disappear by the latter part of May), greenish-black ; under parts, deep rich green, iridescent with purple ; irides, green ; bill, blackish ; base of under mandible, yellow ; legs, feet, and webs, black. Length, from twenty-six to twenty-seven inches. The female same as male. (Bannct The Gannet {Suhi bassana, Brisson) is a resident species in our British waters, varying in numbers according to the BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 219 time of year. It is also found inhabiting the coasts of the North Atlantic. The adult male has the head and neck white, suffused with warm buff; the rest of the plumage, white, with the exception of the primaries, which are black ; naked skin round eyes, greyish-blue ; bill, horny-white ; irides, light straw-yellow; fore part of legs and toes, green. Length, from thirty to thirty-four inches. The female resembles male. The young, on upper parts, are dark brownish-ash, mottled with white ; under parts, dusky-ash and buff. fIDutc Swan, The Mute Swan {Cvij^nus o/or, J. E. (imclin) is a more or less domesticated species in this country, although it is not improbable that in hard winters a few really wild examples visit the British Isles. It is an inhabitant of most portions of the Palearctic Region. The adult has tlie whole of the- 220 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. plumage white ; greater part of the bill, reddish-orange ; protuberance at base of upper mandible, lores, edges of mandibles, nail, and nostrils, also legs and feet, black ; irides, brown. Length, about sixty inches. The female is less in size, and protuberance is not so large. The young have the plumage mostly uniform greyish-brown ; bill and legs, leaden colour. Iboopcr S\van< JOHA/' 77u/VCA/\/ The Hooper Swan {Cygnus innsicus, Bechstein) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult has the whole plumage white ; the lores and basal portion of bill, reaching below the nostrils, yellow ; remaining portion of bill, black ; irides, brown ; legs and feet, black. Length, about sixty inches. The female is a trifle less. The young have the upper parts ashy-brown, lighter below ; bill, legs, and feet, dusky flesh colour. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. fficwich'9 Swan, 'JOhW Duf^C^' Bewick's Swan {Cygmis Beivicki, Varrell) is a fairly common autumn and winter migrant to the Ikitisb Islands, and occurs in most parts of the Palearctic Region with the exception of Iceland. The adult has the whole plumage white; loral region and an oval patch (which does not reach the nostrils) on each side of upper mandible, yellow ; rest of bill, black ; irides, hazel ; legs and feet, black. Length, from forty-five to forty-nine inches. The young are similar to the young of the hooper, but much less in size. 222 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. XcBBcv QnoxKf (3ooec. The Lesser Snow Goose (C/ien hyperboreus, Pallas) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the western portion of Arctic America and North-Eastern Asia, migrating southward in winter. The adult has the entire plumage white with the exception of the primary coverts, which are grey; quills, black, grey at the base; irides, hazel; bill, pale red; legs and feet. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 22 darker red. Length, from twenty-nine to thirty-two inches. The female is a Uttle less in size than the male. The young have the upper plumage greyish; feathers on wing- coverts and back, marked in centre with darker grey ; under parts, whitish ; bill, black ; legs and feet, pale slate colour. The Grey- Lag Cioose {A user cincreus, Meyer) is a com- paratively rare resident in the liritish Isles, its numbers being largely increased in the winter by visitors from more northern latitudes ; it also inhabits the Palearctic Region, and in winter is found in Northern Africa and India. The adult has the general colour of the head, neck, and upper parts of plumage, greyish-brown ; rump and wing-rovcrts, 224 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. bluish-grey; narrow band of white at base of upper mandible; throat and breast, grey; below, dull white; flanks, ashy-brown, margined and tipped with paler brown ; irides, brown ; bill, pinkish ; whitish coloured nail ; legs and feet, flesh tint. Length, from thirty to thirty-five inches. The female resembles male. The young are darker than mature birds. Bean (Soosc. JOHN Uufl/CAN. -'l;^\j *^^' The Bean Goose (A/iser segeium^ Gmelin) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. In autumn it BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 225 migrates to North- West Africa. The adult is similar to the grey-lag goose, but is a little less in size, the wing is longer, and the feathers on the back have much darker brown centres ; irides are hazel ; the beak is black at the base, the middle portion orange-yellow, and the nail black; whilst legs and feet are orange-yellow. Length, from thirty to thirty-four inches. Ipink^footcb (Sooec. ^^i.>/ /y? 'i\ JonA/ JJuf^CAK The Pink-footed Goose {Anser bracliyrhynclms, Baillon) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the northern portions of the Palcarctic Region, in autumn migrating southward. The adult is distinguished from the l)can goose by its shorter wing, and the middle 15 226 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. of the bill being pink ; the legs and feet are also pink. Length, from twenty-eight to twenty-nine inches. Mbite:=froitteb Goose. DUA/CA//' n:^y':-Z;00^^)mp^ , The White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons^ Scopoli) is a common, though local, autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands. It is also found in summer in the Northern Palearctic Region, and in autumn migrates southward to Northern Africa and India. The adult has the upper part of plumage brown, tinged with ashy; feathers on back have paler margins; base of upper mandible and forehead, white ; primaries, black ; breast and abdomen, brownish-white, with bold blotches and bands of black; irides, hazel ; bill, yellow; nail at tip, white; legs, toes, and webs, yellow. Length, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 227 about twenty-seven inches. The young show no white at the base of the bill. Xc69cr Mbite*=frontc& (Sooec. -^»' The Lesser White-fronted Goose {A/iser albifrons ininuius^ Naumann) is an exceedingly rare autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands. It inhabits Arctic Russia and Siberia, and in autumn migrates southward. The adult male closely resembles A?iser aIbifro?is^ but is much smaller, shows more white on the forehead, and the plumage is darker ; iridcs, brown ; bill, whitish-pink ; nail, horn colour ; legs, toes, and webs, yellow. Length, about twenty inches. 221 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Brent (Boose. Uq/iJl^uNCA /V. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 229 The Brent Goose {Bernicla brenta, Brisson) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the Arctic portions of the Palearctic Region, and in autumn migrates as far to the south as the Mediterranean. The adult has the feathers on mantle blackish-brown, margined with paler ; crown, neck, chest, wings, rump, and tail- feathers, black ; on each side of the neck is a patch of black and white ; sides of rump and upper tail-coverts, white ; lower breast and belly, dark grey, margined with lighter ; vent and under tail-coverts, white ; irides, dark brown; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, from twenty- two to twenty-three inches. The young are duller in colour, and show very little white on the neck spot. 230 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Mbite-belllcb Brent (Boose. The White-bellied Brent Goose {Bernida brenta glauco- gaster, Brehm) is an uncommon autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands. It inhabits the Arctic Regions, and migrates southward in autumn and winter. This goose is distinguished from Bernida brenta by having the under parts below the breast almost white. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Bcrnacle 6ooec. 2^1 Thk licrnaclc Goose {Beniicla Icucopsis, Bcchstcin) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits Arctic Europe, and during migration passes southward to the Mediterranean and Egypt. The adult has the cheeks, line over the eye, forehead, and throat, white; lores, top of head, neck, and shoulders, black'; mantle, lavender grey, with black bars and white tips; pri- 232 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. maries and tail, blackish; breast and abdomen, whitish; sides of former and flanks have obscure bars of grey and brown ; vent and tail-coverts, white ; irides, hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about twenty-five inches. The Red-breasted Goose {Beriiicla riificollis, Pallas) is an exceedingly rare abnormal autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands. It inhabits Northern Siberia, and during migration is met with in the extreme east of Europe. The adult has the front, crown, nape, back parts of neck, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ^Zc> patch under the eyes, and tail, black; loral patches, white; two white stripes extending from the back of the eyes to the bottom of the neck; ear-patches, neck, and upper part of the back, deep rusty-red; back and wings, dusky; lower part of breast and belly, black; sides of rump and under tail-coverts, white; flanks, barred with blackish; irides, hazel; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, from twenty to twentv-two inches. Contnton SbclbraUc Jufii'^t DuNCA; The Common Sheldrake {Tadorfia coniuta, S. (i. Gmclin) is a resident species on the British coasts, changing quarters locally during the non-nesting period ; it is also found inhal)iting tlic Palcarctic Region. The adult male has 234 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. the head and upper neck blackish-green, with glossy reflections ; lower part of neck, sides of body, lower part of back, wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts, and tail, white, the latter tipped with black ; wing spot, green ; scapulars, a portion of secondaries, and primaries, blackish ; a rich chestnut band on chest and upper back ; centre of abdomen, brownish-black ; bill and basal knob, bright red ; irides, brown ; legs and feet, red. Length, about twenty-five or twenty-six inches. The female is similar to male, but lacks knob and is a trifle less in size. The young are duller in colouration, having head and neck brown, and showing much more white than adults. John Buaican. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 235 The Ruddy Sheldrake {Tadorna casarca, Linnxus) is a rare irregular autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and in summer inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region. The adult male has the upper back, mantle, scapulars, and the whole of the under parts, yellowish- chestnut ; ring round lower neck, quills, upper tail-coverts, and tail, black, with a greenish gloss ; forehead, white ; head, rufous-buff; speculum, bright metallic-green; irides, dark hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about twenty-five inches. The adult female is similar to male, but the neck ring is absent. The young in first plumage are somewhat similar to the adult females, but are lighter in colour, and the wing-coverts, scapulars, and innermost secondaries are tincred with brown. antcrican Miocoit. TiiR American Wigeon {Anas Americana, Gmclin) is a very rare irregular autumn migrant to tiie British Islands. 236 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. It inhabits Western Arctic America, migrating southward in winter to Central America and the West Indies. The adult male has the head and neck whitish, speckled slightly with black, and a patch of metallic green on the side of the head ; back and flanks, vermiculated with black on a vinous tint ; axillaries, white ; breast, shaded with vinous ; speculum, black, glossed with green ; abdomen, white ; bill, slate colour; nail, black. Length, about twenty-two inches. The adult female is similar to Aftas pe?ieiope, but the alar bar is rich black, and the axillaries white, very slightly mottled. WiGEON. The Wigeon {Anas penelope, Linnaeus) is best known as a winter visitor to the British Islands, but a few pairs nest within our limits. It also inhabits most parts of the Pale- arctic and Nearctic Regions, but only sparingly in the latter. The adult male has the crown and forehead ochreous- buff; cheeks and back part of neck, rich ferruginous, with minute spots of dark green; lower portion of neck behind, also scapulars and back, fine vermiculations of dark grey and white ; scapulars, elongated ; speculum, vivid green, tipped below with black ; primaries and tail, blackish ; chin, black: throat and upper part of neck, chestnut; breast, white, shading into grey; flanks, finely marked with dark grey ; irides, hazel ; bill, slate-grey ; tip, black ; legs and feet, deep greyish-blue. Length, about twenty or twenty- one inches. (P. 237.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 237 Migcon. *JoH/v DufiC/^/v- 238 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common ^eaL ^^^ i/o///V Da/vcA/v . The Common Teal {Anas crecca, Linnaeus) is a locally distributed species throughout the British Islands, and also inhabits the Palearctic Region, but is rare in the Nearctic Region. The adult male has the crown, nape, and cheeks bright chestnut ; enclosing the eye, and reaching the nape, is a large patch of bright green with glossy purple reflec- tions ; bordered by black and white ; sides of lower neck, back, scapulars, and flanks, finely vermiculated with black and white ; wing-coverts, brown, shaded w^ith greyish ; speculum, black, green, and purple, tipped with pale buff; rump and tail-coverts, blackish ; feathers of tail, brown, washed with ash ; chin, black ; breast, chestnut, spotted with round black spots ; middle of abdomen, white ; under tail-coverts, black in the centre with rich buff" on each side ; irides, hazel ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brownish. Length, about fourteen inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 239 I <^' amcrican ^eaL The American Teal (Anas Caro/i/iensis, Gmelin) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting North America, migrating south in winter. The adult has the scapulars pale slate-grey, and a broad white crescent on each side of the breast. 16lue:=winc5cb Zeal The Blue-winged Teal {Anas discors^ Linnaeus) is an ex- ceedingly rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, whose claims to be included in the British list are very doubtful. It is found inhabiting the Central and Southern Nearctic Region. The adult male of this teal can readily be distinguished from its allies by a white crescent between the eye and the bill, and by the con- spicuous blue wing-coverts. 240 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (BabwalL The Gadwall {A?ias strepera, Linnaeus) is a resident species in some parts of the British Islands, nesting in some dis- tricts in fair numbers. It occurs in both the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male has the head and upper part of neck pale brown, mottled with darker brown ; back and lesser wing-coverts, dark brown, edged with pale grey ; upper and under tail-coverts, black ; median coverts, chestnut ; greater coverts, blackish ; primaries, brown ; speculum, white ; chest and flanks, dusky, margined with paler; centre of abdomen, whitish; irides, brown; bill, black ; legs and feet, dull orange-red. Length, from nine- teen to twenty inches. The female has the upper parts of BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 241 plumage and breast margined with pale brown ; speculum, white. The young are brown of various shades; speculum, white. pintail 2)ucft* Ua^c, TiiK Pintail Duck {Anas acuta, Linnxus) is a fairly common visitant to tlie British Isles in winter. It is also met with in the Northern Palearctic and Nearctic Regions, and during winter is found in tlie Oriental Re-ion. The adult male has 16 242 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. the back and scapulars (the latter being elongated) finely vermiculated with brown and grey ; speculum, vivid green, margined with black and white; tail, blackish-grey; central pair of rectrices, black, and elongated; under tail-coverts, black ; head and throat, dark reddish-brown ; back of neck, darker and colours glossed ; a white stripe runs down each side of neck ; under parts, white ; irides, brown ; bill, leaden-blue, black in upper centre ; legs and feet, black. Length, about twenty-four inches. The female has no long tail-feathers. Garganey. The Garganey (A^as dra'a, Linnaeus) is a summer migrant to the British Isles; it inhabits most parts of the Pale- arctic Region with the exception of the extreme north. In winter it occurs as far southwards as the Malay Archipelago. The adult male has the back brown, glossed with green, and paler margins; scapulars, long and elongated, and conspicuously marked in centre with a white stripe; wing- coverts, bluish, tinged with grey; speculum, glossy green, with white margins on either side; quills and tail, brown; crown and nape, deep rich umber-brown, with a border of white; chin, black; cheeks and throat, rufous-brown; breast, light brown, with crescentic bands of dark brown; abdomen, white; with fine blackish vermiculations towards vent, and having two black crescents on each lower flank; irides, hazel; bill, blackish; legs and feet, greyish-brown. Length, about fifteen inches. (P. 243.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 243 (Barganc^. 244 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Sbo\)cllei\ -Si> ■^- -^ \\ 1 c-.^*^^ Jqh/V Duncan. The Shoveller {Anas clypeata, Linnaeus) is principally a winter visitor to the British Isles, but a few are always found in the nesting season breeding with us. It also in- habits both the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male has the centre of back brown, margined with paler; rump and tail-coverts, rich black; tail, black; head and fore part of neck, rich metallic-green; majority of feathers on lower neck and scapulars, white ; elongated scapulars, black, blue, and white ; speculum, bright green ; greater wing-coverts, tipped with white; primaries, black; breast and abdomen, bright rich chestnut ; vent, white ; under tail-coverts, black; irides, yellow; bill, bluish-slate, and dilated at the end; legs and feet, orange. Length, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 245 about twenty-one inches. The female has the upper parts deep brown, margined and barred with reddish-white; under parts, light reddish-brown. flDallar^ John^Doncan The Mallard {Anas bosclias^ Linnxus) is a resident species in the British Isles, and also inhabits most portions of the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male has the head and neck glossy green ; followed by a collar of pure white ; breast, deep chestnut-red ; mantle, chestnut-brown, feathers margined with paler ; scapulars, greyish-white, ver- miculated with brown ; rump and centre tail-feathers, which are curled up, black; lesser wing-coverts, greyish-brown; greater coverts, barred with white and tipped with black ; speculum, brilhant violet, shading into black and tipped 246 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. with white ; primaries, greyish-brown ; abdomen and flanks, white tinged with grey, and finely vermiculated with dusky ; irides, dark brown; bill, yellowish; legs and feet, orange. Length, about twenty-four inches. The female has the general colouration brown and bufl" of various shades. pocbarb. The Pochard {^Fuligula ferina^ Linnaeus) is a fairly common winter visitor to the British Isles, and it also inhabits the Palearctic Region, but does not occur in the extreme North and East. The adult male in summer dress has the head and upper neck rich chestnut ; breast and upper portion of back, brownish-black ; mantle and breast, white, tinged BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 247 with grey, with fine vermiculations of dark grey ; upper tail- coverts, black ; speculum, grey ; under parts, greyish-white, vermiculated with grey ; under tail-coverts, black ; irides, red ; bill, black, showing a broad band of blue across the centre ; legs and toes, bluish-grey ; w^ebs, black. Length, about eighteen inches. The female has the chin whitish ; head, neck, and breast, brownish. The remainder of j)lumage shows more brown than in the male. 1Rcb=^crc6tcb pocbarb. Thk Rcd-crestcd Pochard {/'u/r^u/a rufina, Pallas) is a rare irregular winter migrant to the P>ritish Isles, and also 248 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. inhabits the South-Western Palearctic Region. The adult male has the head and fore-neck rufous, the former being furnished with a soft bushy crest ; lower neck, breast, and belly, rich warm black ; secondaries, white ; some of the quills and speculum, white; back and tail, brown; shoulders and flanks, white ; irides, red ; bill, rich crimson ; nail, brown; legs and feet, rich orange. Length, about twenty- one inches. The adult female has the general colour of the upper parts greyish-brown ; head, tinged with yellowish- brown ; white shoulder patches absent. White-eyed Pochard. The White-eyed Pochard {Fiiligula nyroca, Guldenstadt) is a rare abnormal spring, autumn, and winter migrant to the British Isles, and is also found in the Southern Palearctic Region and North-Western Oriental Region. The adult male has the back, wings, and tail deep brown ; a w^hite speculum with a black border in front; head, neck, and breast, rich chestnut; a dusky ring encircles the lower neck; a small white spot on chin ; abdomen, whitish ; flanks, dull chestnut ; under tail-coverts, white ; irides, white ; bill, blackish ; nail, black ; legs and feet, slate colour. Length, about sixteen inches. The adult female closely resembles the male, with the exception that the colouration is duller and the belly marked with brown. The young of the year are similar to the adult females, but show less white and chestnut. (P. 249.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 149 Mbite^^e^eb pocbarb* 250 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ^uftcb 2)ucJ^, The Tufted Duck {Fuligula cristata, Leach) is a winter visitor to the British low-lying coasts, and a fair number are known to nest with us ; it also occurs in the more temperate portion of the Palearctic Region. The adult male has the head, elongated crest, and upper portion of neck, black, glossed with purple ; lower part of neck, black; mantle and scapulars, brownish-black, with fine vermiculations of brown ; speculum, white ; abdomen, white, tinged with grey towards vent ; under tail-coverts, black ; irides, light yellow ; bill, bluish-grey, with black nail ; legs, bluish-grey ; webs, dusky. Length, about BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 251 fifteen inches. The female has the parts which are black in the male, brownish; abdomen and sides, white, with a greyish tinge ; on forehead, some white mottlings. Scaup. Zhi^c^N The Scaup {Fuligula /nan'/a, Linna:us) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits both the Northern Ncarctic and Palcarctic Regions. 'Hie adult male has the middle of the back and scapulars silvery white, with black vermiculations ; speculum and under parts, white ; head, neck, and breast. 2^2 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. black, glossed with purple ; most feathers of wings, greyish- brown ; rump, upper and under tail-coverts, black, with glossy reflections ; irides, yellow ; bill, pale slate-blue ; nail, black; legs and feet, slate-grey. Length, from seventeen to nineteen inches. The adult female has the general colour of upper plumage and breast brown, with a few vermiculations of whitish ; flanks, faintly barred with brown; forehead and chin, whitish. The young resemble the adult females, but the feathers round the base of the bill show much less whitish. Golden Eye. The Golden Eye {Clangula glaucion, Linnaeus) is a common autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult male has the head and upper part of neck black, with green and purple reflections ; a white spot under the lores ; upper plumage varied with black and white ; under parts, white ; thighs, brown ; irides, rich yellow ; bill, black ; legs and toes, orange ; webs, blackish. Length, from seventeen to nineteen inches. The adult female is less in size, and lacks the white on the face. The young in first plumage are similar to the adult female. (P. 253.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 25: (Bolbcn ]£^c. Jo/t\ Uu A/CAN- 254 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Ibarlcquin 3)ucf^, The Harlequin Duck {^Fuligula histrionica^ Linnaeus) is an exceedingly fare nomadic autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Eastern Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male of this duck cannot be mistaken for any other British species, and a detailed description is hardly needed. The general colouration of the plumage is of a leaden tint, varied with markings of white, black, chest- nut, and brown ; the wing speculum is metallic purple ; irides, hazel; bill, dark slate, lighter on the nail; legs and feet, brown, with darker webs. Length, about seventeen BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 255 inches. The adult female is mostly uniform brown, with a faint whitish patch between the base of the bill and eye ; under parts, mottled wnth white. XoiiG^tailcb 2)uck. ///V UuA/CArS The Long-tailed Duck {Fiiligiihi ghnialis, Linnaeus), a tolerably common autumn and winter migrant to the P>ritish Islands, is a circumpolar species, migrating in autumn southward through both Ivastcrn and Western 256 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Hemispheres. The adult male in summer has the head, neck, upper part of breast, and upper back, white; eyes, surrounded with a greyish tinge; a large patch of dark brown on each side of lower scapulars, elongated and white; back, rump, wings, tail and upper tail-coverts, deep brown; two central tail-feathers which are narrow and much elon- gated, brown; outer rectrices, white; flanks, washed with grey ; breast, dark brown ; below, white ; irides, reddish- brown; bill at basal half and nail, black ; remainder, orange- red ; legs and feet, deep slate-grey. Length, without central tail-feathers, about twenty-two inches. The adult female lacks the elongated rectrices. Common Scoter. The Common Scoter i^Fuligula nigra^ Linnaeus) is an autumn and winter visitor to the British Islands, breeding very locally in Scotland ; it is also found inhabiting the whole of the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult male has the whole of the plumage rich glossy black; irides, hazel; bill, black, with central ridge of upper mandible deep yellow ; legs and feet, blackish, webs of a darker hue. Length, from eighteen to twenty inches. The adult female has the prevailing colouration of the plumage of a brownish tinge; knob on bill hardly perceptible. The young are similar to adult female, but under parts are mottled with whitish. (P. 257.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 257 Common Scoter. 17 258 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IDelvet Scoter. The Velvet Scoter {Ftiligula fusca, Linnseus) is a fairly common autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands.^ It inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region, and is met with on migration as far south as the Mediterranean. The adult male has the whole of the plumage black (glossed above, and duller beneath), with the exception of a spot behind the eye and speculum, which is pure white ; irides, brownish ; BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, 259 bill, black on the basal tubercule and nostrils ; margin of upper mandible, also black; remainder, orange; legs and feet, orange ; webs, blackish-brown. Length, about twenty- two inches. The adult female is browner on the upper parts ; underneath, greyish, streaked and spotted with brown ; speculum, whitish ; a whitish spot on lores, and a patch of whitish on auriculars. Surf Scoter. John JJu^CfiN The Surf Scoter {Fuligula pcrspicillata, Linnaeus) is a rare straggler in autumn and winter to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. The adult male in summer has the plumage velvety black, with a tinge of brown on the throat; a broad white l)and between the 26o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. eyes, and a triangular patch of the same colour on the nape; irides, straw colour; bill, orange-red on the upper mandible; nail, yellowish-grey; protuberance on each side at the base, black ; and in front a silvery-greyish patch extending to the nostrils ; lower mandible, pinkish ; legs and feet, orange-red ; webs, dusky. Length, about twenty- one inches. The adult female is of a uniform sooty-brown colour, lightest about the neck, and the protuberances are scarcely to be seen ; whilst the colour is dusky. Buffcl^bcabeb 2)uch. The Buffel-headed Duck {Clangiila albeohi, Linnaeus) is a very irregular winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. The adult is con- siderably less in size than Clangnla glaucion, to which it bears a close resemblance. It can readily be distinguished BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 261 by the large white patch on the side of the head behind the eye ; the common golden-eye has the white in front of the eye. The adult female has also a white patch behind the eye. Common )£it)ei\ --^ <^: Thi>: Common Eider (So/naieria viollissima^ Linnaeus) is a resident species in the British Isles, but is only known to breed in England in one locality — viz., the Fame Islands, Northumberland. It is also found inhabiting the northern portions of the Western Palearctic Region. The adult 262 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. male has the forehead and crown black, with a line of white on the hind crown ; nape, emerald green, with a divisional line of white between a green patch on each side of the neck; throat, white; upper breast, rich buff; under parts, black, showing a white spot on each side of vent ; lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts, primary-coverts, greater wing-coverts, and secondaries, black; quills and tail, dark brown ; irides, hazel-brown ; bill, olive-green ; legs and feet, olive-green. Length, from twenty-four to twenty-six inches. The female is principally brown and black. Steller's Eider. Steller's Eider {Somateria stellej-i^ Pallas) is an exceed- ingly rare nomadic autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the North-Eastern Palearctic Region, and probably the extreme North-Western Palearctic Region. The adult of this eider is easily distinguished by a black ring (which is glossed with purple and green) round the neck ; the elongated secondaries, which are white on the inner and bright blue on the outer webs ; the wing-speculum, which is bluish-purple ; and a black spot on each side of the breast. Irides, hazel ; bill, dark slate ; nail, lighter ; legs and feet, brownish-grey. Length, from eighteen to nineteen inches. The adult female has the upper parts brown ; under plumage, blackish on abdomen ; speculum, dull bluish-purple. (P. 263.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 26- StcUcr'6 JEi&ci\ John LluNCAN. 264 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Ikino Ei&er. The King Eider {Somateria spedabilis, Linnaeus) is a rare accidental straggling autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the Circumpolar Region, during winter moving southward. The adult male has the crown and nape light bluish-grey; cheeks, pale emerald green ; line above the eye and breast, tinged with buff; lower portion of neck, upper back, and wing-coverts. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ■65 white; scapulars and innermost secondaries, black; pri- maries, brown ; rump, tail-coverts, and lower parts (except a white patch on flanks), black ; irides, yellow ; bill and naked elevated basal tubercule, rich orange, the latter bor- dered with black ; upper throat has a V-shaped mark of black ; legs and feet, orange. Length, from twenty-two to twenty-four inches. Iboo&cb flDerganecn The Hooded Merganser (A/crx^iis cucullatiis, Linnceus) is a rare nomadic autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and is also found inhabiting the Northern Nearctic 266 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Region. The adult male of this merganser can readily be distinguished by the semicircular black crest and the broad bar or patch of white behind the eye. Length, about nine- teen inches. The adult female has the crest reddish-brown, and is rather smaller in size than the male. Goosander. The Goosander {Mergus merganser^ Linnaeus) is a winter visitor to the British Isles, and has nested m some parts of the Highlands. It also occurs in the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male has the head and upper part of neck black, glossed with green and purple ; feathers on crown and nape, long and silky ; lower part of neck and remainder of under parts, white ; breast and abdomen, suffused with rich buff-orange ; thighs, slightly vermiculated with grey ; mantle, black ; wing-coverts and outer second- aries, white ; quills, black ; rump and tail, ashy-black ; irides, red ; bill, vermilion ; nail, black ; legs and feet, rich orange. Length, about twenty-six inches. The female is chestnut on head and upper neck ; chin and upper throat, whitish ; feathers on crown and nape, elongated ; upper parts, slate-grey ; greater coverts, conspicuously tipped with white; under parts, whitish. (P. 267.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 267 (Booaanber. 268 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1Rc&:*brca0tcb fIDerganeer. John XfurvCAN- BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 269 The Red-breasted Merganser {Mergiis serrato?-, Linnaeus) is a winter visitant to England, but nests in both Scotland and Ireland, and is also found in the Northern Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male in summer has the head, crest, and upper portion of neck greenish-black, with purple reflections ; a black line runs down the back of the neck ; near the point of the wing is a tuft of white feathers with broad black edgings ; mantle, portion of shoulders, inner scapulars, basal half of greater wing-coverts, second- aries, and primaries, rich black ; speculum, white ; long tertials bordered with black ; white collar round neck ; upper part of breast, pale chestnut-brown, streaked with black ; remainder of under parts, white ; flanks, rump, and tail-coverts have grey vermiculations ; irides, red ; bill, red : nail, black ; legs and feet, reddish-orange. Length, about twenty-two inches. The adult female is much less than the male, and is reddish-brown on the head and neck ; a black bar runs across the alar speculum. 270 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Smev\)« BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 27 The Smew {Me?'giis albellus, Linnaeus) is a rare straggling autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult male has the forehead, crown, and crest (which is elongated) white ; ioral region, black ; patch on nape, black ; back, two cres- centic black lines on sides of breast; secondaries and middle wing-coverts, rich black, the latter fringed with white ; primaries, blackish ; scapulars, white and greyish, with black margins on outer webs ; upper tail-coverts and tail, slate-grey ; flanks and sides, vermiculated with black ; plumage, otherwise white ; irides, reddish ; bill, slate colour, lighter at tip ; legs and feet, grey ; webs, darker. Length, from sixteen to seventeen inches. 272 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 3fIamingo. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 273 The Flamingo {Phoc7iicopterus roseus^ Pallas) is an ex- ceptionally rare abnormal migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the South-western Palearctic Region, as well as the Northern Ethiopian Region. The adult has the wing-coverts scarlet ; quills, black ; remainder of plumage, white, washed with rose colour ; irides, yellow ; base of bill, rosy, tip, black; legs and feet, light pink. The length is said to vary from forty-four to seventy inches. Glossy Ibis. The Glossy Ibis {Plegadis falcinellus^ Linnaeus) is a rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, breeding in Southern Europe, and distributed over most of the temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres. The adult has the general colouration, above, glossy greenish- black, with a metallic lustre ; head, neck, and under parts, chestnut ; irides, brown ; naked skin, from base of bill and round eyes, green ; bill and legs, greenish-black. Length, about twenty-two inches. The male and female are alike in plumage, but the latter is less in size. The young are duller in colour, and streaked in parts with greyish-white. (R 274.) 74 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (51006^ 3bi6. WJom/J JJu.vcaa/.'" BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 275 276 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ( See preceding page. ) The Spoonbill (P/a/a/ea leucorodia^ Linnaeus) is an occa- sional straggler to the British Islands during migration, and is found inhabiting the Palearctic and Western Oriental Region, migrating southward in winter. The adult male has the whole of the plumage white, with the exception of the crest and feathers on lower neck, which are slightly suffused with pale yellow ; irides, red ; bill, tipped with yellow ; remainder, black with yellow bars ; naked spot on throat, yellow ; legs and feet, black. Length, about thirty- two inches. The adult female is a trifle less, and the crest is not so much developed. White Stork. The White Stork {Ciconia alba, Brisson) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Western Palearctic Region. The adult has the whole of the plumage white, with the exception of the secondaries and quills, which are black ; irides, brown ; naked space round eye, black ; bill, legs, and feet, red. Length, from forty to forty-four inches. (P. 277.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 277 Mbite Stork. 278 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Blach Storft. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 279 The Black Stork {Ciconia 7iigra, Linnaeus) is a very rare spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the Southern Palearctic Region. The adult has the under parts from the lower breast, white ; remainder of plumage rich black, more or less suffused with purple, blue, coppery, and green reflections ; irides, brown ; bare space round eye, scarlet ; bill, legs, and feet, scarlet. Length, from forty to forty-two inches. 28o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Bittern, John Duncan ~=- The Bittern {Botaurus sfellaris, Linnaeus) can only be called a casual visitor to the British Isles in spring. At one time it nested with us, but is said no longer to do so. It is found also in most parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, with the exception of the extreme north. The adult has the upper parts more or less buff, with vermiculations of brown and bars of dark brown ; forehead, crown, and nape, brown ; side of chin, streaked with blackish ; rest of plumage, more or less vermiculated, streaked, and marked with chestnut, buff, and brown ; irides, brown ; bill, greenish- yellow; legs and feet, greenish. Length, from twenty-five to twenty-eight inches. The female is similar to the male. The young resemble adults. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 281 Xittle Bittern. The Little Bittern {Ardetta minuta, Linnaeus) is a spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting Central Europe and Western Asia, ranging to the south in winter as far as Central Africa. The adult male has the crown, nape, back, shoulders, and tail-feathers glossy greenish-black ; quills, black ; sides of head, neck, and wing-coverts, rusty-buff, the latter paler; throat and under parts, buff, streaked with brownish on some of the feathers at side of chest and flanks ; chin and vent, white ; irides and bill, yellow ; legs and feet, yellowish-olive. Length, from twelve to thirteen inches. The adult female is a little less than the male. 282 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. amcrican Bittent JOHN JJuNCfKN. '^ BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 283 The American Bittern {Botaurus lentiginosus, Montagu) is a rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Nearctic Region, but not the extreme north. The adult is similar in general coloura- tion of plumage to the common bittern. It is, however, smaller in size, the vermiculations are much finer, and the primaries, which are uniform slate-brown, are not barred. The bill, legs, and feet are also more slender than those of Botaurus stellaris. Length, about twenty-seven inches. The female resembles the male, but is less in size. The young show more rufous in the colouration. CoMiMON Heron. The Common Heron {Ardea cijierea, Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Islands, and is found inhabiting most parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with the exception of the extreme north of the two former continents. The adult male has the forehead, crown, sides of head, throat, edge of wings, breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, white ; upper parts, mostly ashy-grey, with the elongated feathers lighter grey ; primaries, black ; sides of breast, boldly marked with black ; neck, white, streaked in front with blackish ; occipital plumes, much elongated and black ; irides, yellow ; bill, yellow ; legs and feet, yellowish-green. Length, about thirty-six inches. The adult female closely resembles male, but the plumage is duller and crest shorter. (P. 284.) 284 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common Ibcron. JOHW BUhIC*- BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 285 IRiObt Ibcron. v/j///V Du/vCA/^ The Night Heron {Nycticorax griseiis, Linnaeus) is a rare spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region, as well as Africa. The adult has the crown, nape, upper back, and scapulars deep brown, with a metallic-green gloss ; wings and tail, pale slate ; forehead, eye-stripe, occipital plumes, and remainder of plumage, white; irides, deep red; bill, blackish ; legs and feet, yellowish- brown. Length, from twenty-two to twenty-three inches. The female has the occipital plumes less developed, and the [)lumage is duller in colouration than the male. The young bird has no crest. 286 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 36uff*bacfeeb Iberon. ^^t_ The Buff-backed Heron {Ardea biibuleus^ Audouin) is an exceedingly rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits Southern Europe and Africa, but is met with in the south-western parts of Asia. The adult male in summer has the plumage of the head, neck, breast, and the elongated filamentous feathers of plumes, rusty-buff; remainder of plumage, white; irides, yellowish- pink ; bill, reddish at base, yellow at tip ; legs, yellowish ; lores, yellow. Length, from eighteen to twenty inches. The female resembles the male, but is rather less, and the plumes are smaller. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 287 Squacco Iberon. JOMN Du/VCAfi -^^^U~-7^^^- The Squacco Heron {Ardea comata^ Pallas) is a rare ab- normal spring and summer migrant to the British Islands. It is found inhabiting Southern Europe and Africa, and in winter migrates from Europe. The adult has the feathers of cheeks, back, neck, and upper breast, buff, tinged with light reddish on the back ; feathers on the crown, which are much lengthened, white, bordered with black; dorsal plumes, much elongated; remainder of plumage, white; irides, light yellow ; bill, blue, black at tip ; bare part round eye, green ; legs and feet, yellowish flesh colour. Length, from eighteen to nineteen inches. The adult female is similar to the adult male, but the plumes are less developed. 288 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. purple Ibcron. John Buncan. ^? ^/ BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 289 The Purple Heron {Ardea purpurea, LinnDSus) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits most of the temperate and tropical regions of the Eastern Hemisphere; in the northern parts it is migra- tory. The adult has the crown and elongated feathers of occiput purplish-black ; back and wing-coverts, deep slate- grey ; dorsal plumes, rusty-red ; chin and throat, white ; sides of head and neck, ferruginous, with streaks of blackish ; neck, yellowish-chestnut, with a black line down each side ; elongated feathers on chest, black, grey, and reddish ; under parts, rich chestnut ; irides, yellow ; bill, yellow, brownish above ; legs and feet, olive. Length, from twenty-nine to thirtv-six inches. Little Egret. The Little Egret {Ardea garzetfa, Linnoeus) is an exceed- ingly rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region and Ethiopian and Oriental Regions. The adult in summer plumage has a crest on the occiput consisting of two elon- gated feathers ; lower neck, furnished with lengthened feathers ; back plumes, elongated ; entire plumage, white ; irides, light yellow; naked part round eye, lavender; bill and legs, blackish ; lower part of feet, yellowish. Length, about twenty-four inches. The plumes of the adult female are said to be shorter than those of the adult male, but otherwise the plumage is similar. The young have no lengthened [)lumes. (!'. 290.) If) 290 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. little leoret. './ '•• %^ ^' JoHA/ Duncan. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 291 (Breat Mbitc EQret The (ireat White Egret {A?'dea alba^ Linnceus) is a very rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the Southern Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has a short occipital crest ; dorsal plumes, which are elongated, hang over the tail : feathers at bottom of neck, prolonged and lancelote ; ])lumage, entirely white; irides, yellow; bare part round eye, greenish-yellow ; bill, black ; legs and feet, reddish- brown. Length, from forty to forty-two inches. Tlie plumes, which are shorter in the adult female, are absent in the young birds ; bill, yellow. 292 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Contnton Crane. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 293 'J'he Common Crane {Griis communis^ Bechstein), which is a rare straggling spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, is found inhabiting the Palearctic Region. The adult has the general colour grey ; top of the head, which is bare of feathers, red ; forehead and lores, black ; nape, chin, and front of neck, greyish-black ; primaries, black ; innermost secondaries, elongated and forming graceful plumes ; irides, crimson ; bill, olivish ; legs and feet, blackish. Length, from forty-five to forty-six inches. Demoiselle Crane. The Demoiselle Crane {Grus virgo, Linnaeus) is an ex- ceedingly rare straggling spring migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region. The adult male has the general colouration ashy-grey; the sides of the head, neck, and a prolonged plume depending from the breast, blackish ; behind each eye is a long tuft of white feathers passing backwards to the occiput ; secondaries, elongated into slender-pointed plumes, which fall over quills and tail ; irides, crimson ; bill, greenish at base, light brown at tip ; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about thirty-six inches. The female is duller in colour than the male, and the elongated feathers are less developed. (P. 294.) 294 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. DeiDoiaclIc Crane. ■J OH A/ Liu/^c^y. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 295 Great Buetarb. ^■^^^A"^ Jof^A/ Uurvc. The Great Bustard {Otis tarda, Linnaeus), which formerly bred in, but is now only an irregular nomadic spring, autumn, and winter migrant to, the British Isles, inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region. The adult male has the head pale grey ; on each side of the base of the bill is a long tuft of whitish feathers ; throat and upper neck, wliite ; upper plumage, mostly yellowish-rusty or buflish- rcd, barred and otherwise variegated with brown and black; chest, yellowish-rusty, with markings of chestnut; underneath, white; irides, dark hazel; bill, grey; tip, darker; legs and feet, brown. Length, about forty-five inches. The adult female is much smaller, and the mous- tachial tuft and chestnut markings on chest are absent. 296 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Xittle Buatarb. The Little Bustard {Otis tetrax^ Linnaeus), which is a rare stragghng spring, autumn, and winter migrant, inhabits the South-western Palearctic Region. The adult male of this bustard bears a close resemblance in the colouration of the plumage to that of Otis tarda, but the chest is crossed by two black bands, and the moustachial plumes (which are conspicuous in the great bustard) are absent ; irides, bright yellow ; bill, brownish ; tip, darker ; legs and feet, dusky- yellow. Length, from sixteen to seventeen inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 297 fIDacqueeiVe Buetarb, W^^^Bm^:^-^^^^ V ~~ ?:« 298 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ( See preceditig page. ) Macqueen's Bustard (yOtis Macqueeni^ Gray) is an exceed- ingly rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the South Central Palearctic Region. The adult male has the upper plumage light sandy-buff and rich cream or reddish-fawn colour, with darker markings here and there, and fine vermiculations of dark brown ; the upper crest feathers are w^hite tipped with black ; undermost crest feathers, white; ruff on side of neck, mostly black; tail, barred irregularly with three bands of bluish-grey ; sides of head, pale fawn, with fine vermiculations of brown ; feathers of crop, grey and elongated ; under parts, white ; under tail-coverts, banded and vermiculated with black. Length, about twenty-six inches. Stone Curlew. The Stone Curlew {(Edincnevms crepitans^ Temminck) is a summer migrant to the British Islands, but examples are occasionally obtained in winter. It also occurs in temperate Europe, Northern Africa, as well as South-Western Asia. The adult has the upper parts light brown, streaked down the centres of feathers with dark brown ; primaries, black, the first two being banded with white ; between greater and lesser wing-coverts a light band passes across ; feathers of tail, faint brown, variegated with brown of a darker shade ; a streak below the eye and throat, white ; neck and breast, buff, with dark brown streaks ; abdomen, lighter ; vent and under tail-coverts, whitish; irides, rich yellow, and large; bill, light yellow at base, remainder black ; legs and feet, yellow. Length, about seventeen inches. (P. 299.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 299 Stone (turlevw r-^^^T^ 300 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Cream^colourcb Conraer. The Cream-coloured Courser {Cursorius gal/kus, Gmelin) is a rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting North Africa and South- western Asia. The adult has the general colour of the plumage ochreous-buff, lighter on under parts; crown, buff, shading into dark grey on nape, and bordered with black ; a band over the eye passing to the nape, white, and a black stripe below; primaries, black; throat, white; tail-feathers, marked w^ith a black spot near the end ; irides, hazel ; bill, black, lighter at base beneath ; legs and feet, dusky brown. Length, about ten inches. The male and female are alike in plumage. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ;oi 2)ottereL ■i>UKlCf'^ Y\ '1'he Dotterel {Eudromias inorinelliis^ Linnaeus) is a summer migrant to the British Isles, and is widely distributed through Northern and Central Europe and Western Asia, wintering in Africa north of the Eciuator. The adult female in summer has the upper parts ashy-brown, edged witli paler; inner secondaries, margined with rufous ; crown, blackish ; eye- stripe, broad and white, sloping downward and running backward to the nape ; tail, tipped with white, with the exception of rectrices ; chin and upper throat, white ; lower throat, light brown tinged with greyish, with some dark marks intervening; a white band passes across the chest, which is bordered on the upper side with black; lower breast and flanks, bright chestnut ; abdomen, black ; irides, hazel; bill, black; legs and feet, brownish-yellow. Length, ai)out nine inclies. The male is less than the female, and duller in colouralion. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Contnton pratincole. The Common Pratincole {Glareola pratincola^ Linnaeus) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the South-western Palearctic Region. The adult has the general colour of the plumage brownish-grey ; throat, white, tinged with rusty, and banded by a narrow crescentic black band ; lores, black ; primaries and greater wing-coyerts, blackish ; tail-coverts and tail, white ; the latter forked and banded broadly at the terminal end with brownish-black ; breast, pale brownish-buff ; below, white ; axillaries, reddish-chestnut ; irides, dark hazel ; bill, reddish, black at the tip ; legs and feet, dark brown. Length, from nine to ten inches. The adult female has the black on the lores less pronounced, and the crescentic band is absent. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ;o3 Xapwing. The Lapwing ( Vanellus cristatus^ Wolf and Meyer) is a resident species in the British Islands, and is also an in- habitant of the Palearctic Region. The adult male in nuptial plumage has the upper parts green, with glossy re- flections of hluish-purple and reddish-purple ; upper tail- coverts, bright chestnut ; tail-feathers have the basal half white ; rest, black, tipped with white ; excepting outermost ones, which are nearly white ; the crown and crest feathers, black, glossed with green; sides of neck, whitish; face, throat, and upper portion of breast, black, tinged with blue ; abdomen, white ; under tail-covcrts, chestnut: irides, brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brownish-red. Length, about thirteen inches. The female is duller in colour than male and crest shorter. The young birds show no black on throat ; crest also short. 304 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Sociable Xapwing. JO.IiV IJjNCAtJ. ^ The Sociable Lapwing ( Vanellus gregarius, Pallas) is an exceedingly rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the South Central Palearctic Region. The adult has the top of the head, lores, and a streak behind the eye, black : a broad line of white runs from the base of the bill over the eye to the nape ; ear- coverts, light buff; chin, white; hind neck, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, greyish : secondaries and tail, white ; central tail-feathers have a band of black near the terminal BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 305 end; primaries, mostly black; breast, ashy-grey; abdomen, black; flanks and vent, rich deep chestnut; under tail- coverts, white ; irides, dark hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about thirteen inches. Ikillbccr iplovcr. ^,^H^ Hjncas^ ^' <-'^, ' VT ^ ' The Killdeer Plover {^Ai^^ialitis voci/cra, Linnaeus) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Nearctic Region with the exception of the extreme north. The adult of this plover can be dis- tinguished from its British allies by the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts being rufous. Length, from nine to ten inches. 20 3o6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Breater IRingcb plover. The Greater Ringed Plover {.-^gialitis hiatiatla iiiajor^ Tristam) is a common resident in the British Isles. It is also said to inhabit the Western Palearctic Region and the North-eastern Nearctic Region. The adult male in spring plumage has a band at the base of upper mandible, lores, crown, a patch below the eye, and a band across the chest, which narrows tow^ards the nape, black ; forehead, a stripe behind the eye, chin, throat, and a broad ring round the neck, white ; upper parts mostly ashy-brown ; primaries, brown ; with w^hite on the shafts forming a white bar across when the wing is extended ; outer rectrices, chiefly white ; remainder brown, tipped with white; lower breast and abdomen, white ; irides, brown ; bill, yellow at base, black at tip ; legs and feet, orange. Length, about seven inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 307 IRinocb plover. The Ringed Plover {^^gialitis hiatiada, I.inn^us) is a common spring and autumn coasting migrant to the British Isles. It is also found inhabiting the Western Palearctic Region and North-eastern Nearctic Region. Xittlc IRinocb plover. The Little Ringed JMover {.Egia/itis minor, Wolf and Meyer) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Palearctic Region. The plumage of the adult closely resembles that of the ringed plover, but can readily be distinguished by having tlie shafts of the quills all dusky with the exception of the outer one, which is white. Length, about six inches. 3o8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Ikentisb Sanb plover. John DufiCAN The Kentish Sand Plover {.^gialop]iilus cantiajius^ Latham) is a summer visitor to the British Isles, and is also found in the temperate parts of the Palearctic Region, making its way in winter to Africa, India, and Southern China. The adult has the upper parts pale brown, tinged with greyish ; secondaries, light brown : primaries, greyish- brown, the former tipped with white ; tail, hair-brown ; three outer feathers on each side, pale ochreous-white ; forehead, and a wide line passing over each eye, white ; the lores, black ; a stripe behind the eye, black ; fore part of crown, black ; top of head and nape, rich warm brown ; all round neck, and whole of under parts, white ; neck on each side has a black patch ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about six inches. The female has the plumage duller, no black on fore-crown; neck spots, brown. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 309 Caspian Sanb plovcn The Caspian Sand Plover {.Egialophilus Asiaticits, ]\illas) is a very rare irregular spring migrant to the British Islands, and is found i'alearctic Region. inhabiting: the South Central 3IO BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Bolben plover. ^U/VCi^^ The Golden Plover {Charadrius pluvialis^ Einnaeus) is a resident species in the British Isles ; it also occurs in Northern Europe and the western portion of wSiberia, and is found during winter in Africa. The adult in summer has the upper parts nearly black, with copious spots and bars of bright yellow and greyish ; primaries, black ; bars on tail, brown ; forehead, white ; line above eye, white ; sides of neck, white ; chin, throat, breast, and belly, black, fringed with white on lower breast and abdomen ; axillaries and under tail-coverts, white ; irides, deep hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, slaty-black. Length, about ten inches. The female in same plumage resembles male, but generally shows less black underneath. The young in first plumage have the breast suffused with yellowish, and flanks profusely mottled with brown. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 311 (5re? |plovei\ The Grey Plover {Charadrius Helve ficiis, Brisson) is a common spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, occasionally occurring in winter, and is found inhabiting the Northern Nearctic and Palearctig Regions. The adult male in summer has the general colour of the upper plumage whitish, barred with brown and black ; forehead and eye-stripe, white ; cheeks, lores, throat, breast, upper abdomen, and axillaries, black ; thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts, white ; tail, white, barred with brown and black; primaries, deep brown, with white marks on inner webs ; irides, hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, blackish. Length, from ten to twelve inches. The adult female in summer is duller in colour than the male. 312 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. aeiatic Golden plover. The Asiatic Golden Plover {Charadrius fulviis^ Gmelin) is an exceedingly rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the North-eastern Palearctic Region. This plover can be distinguished from Charadrius pluvialis by being smaller, and having grey axillaries, those of the latter bird being white. Hmerican (Bolben iploven The American Golden Plover {Charadrius fiihus Ameri- ca?ms, Schlegel) is a very rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Isles. It also inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. Common Stilt. The Common Stilt {Himantopiis luelanopterus^ Meyer) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Southern Palearctic and Oriental Regions. The adult male has the forehead, cheeks, front and sides of neck, lower portion of back, and under parts, white, with a blush of pink on the latter ; occiput and nape of the neck, blackish ; mantle, scapulars, wing-coverts, and primaries, black, tinged with green ; tail, greyish ; irides, crimson ; bill, black ; legs and feet, pink. Length, about thirteen inches. The adult female is said to have the back brownish. (P. 313.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common Stilt 314 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common Hvocct BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 315 The Common Avocet {Reairvirostra avocetta, Linnaeus) is a rare spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region and Ethiopian Region. The adult has the cheeks and neck, and rest of plumage, white, with the exception of the head, nape, most part of hind neck, outer scapulars, middle wing-coverts, and primaries, which are black; irides, chestnut-brown; bill, black; legs and feet, pale blue. Length, about eighteen inches. The adult female resembles the adult male, but the colours are duller. The young have the black parts of the plumage washed with brown and margined with rusty. Common Curlew. The Common Curlew {JVumenius arquatus^ Linnceus) is a resident bird in the British Isles, moving about locally according to climatic conditions. It is found in summer in Northern Europe, and occurs during winter in xA-frica. The adult in nuptial dress has the prevailing colour of the upper parts pale brown ; wing-coverts, dull white ; centre of feathers, dark brown ; primaries, blackish ; lower back and rump, white, with bold spots of blackish; feathers of tail, dull white, barred with dark brown ; lower parts, light brown; abdomen, whitish, and streaked with brown; flanks, streaked, shaded, and barred with brown; irides, hazel; bill, dark brown, paler at base ; legs and feet, slate-grey. Length, about twenty inches. The female is larger than the male ; the bill is also longer. The young in first plumage are very similar to adults, but show more rufous, and the markings beneath are more profuse. (P. 316.) 3i6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common Curlew, ^,,;.^;,t#¥Afe^i-^'?^^%??'.>c BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 6^i MbimbrcL The Whimbrel {^Nunienius pJucopus^ Linnxus) is a summer visitor to the British Islands, and inhabits Northern Europe. The adult whimbrel in colouration of plumage is similar to that of the curlew; but is much smaller than the latter species, and the crown is dark brown with a band of pale buftish-white down the centre ; eye-stripe, lightish ; irides, hazel ; bill, dark brown ; base, l)eneath, paler; legs and feet, slate-grey. Length, about seventeen inches. The female, beyond being larger in size, closely resembles the male. The young in first plumage have the upper parts marked with buff; streaks on rump, dark brown. 3i8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. leehinto Mbimbrel JOHAf UOMCA/V. -> The Eskimo Whimbrel {Numenius dorea/is, J. R. Forster) is an exceedingly rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. This whimbrel is easily distinguished from Numenius phceopus by its smaller size, nearly uniform coloured pri- maries, and the absence of white on the lower portion of back and rump. Irides, hazel-brown ; bill, deep brown ; BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 19 under mandible, paler at base; legs and feet, brownish- green. Length, about fourteen inches. 1Rc&:^ncche£) pbalaropc. The Red-necked Phalarope {Phalaropus hyperboreus, Lin- naeus) is a summer migrant to the British Islands, but has not occurred in Ireland. It is also met with in the Northern Palearctic Region and Nearctic Region. The adult female in nuptial plumage has the top and sides of head, nape, hinder portion of neck, and most of upper parts, dull slate-grey, changing into brown on wings and rectrices ; scapulars, marked with deep rufous ; greater wing-coverts, broadly tipped with white ; innermost second- aries, narrowly tipped with white; upper tail-coverts have broad white bars ; patch over eye and chin, white ; front of neck and sides, deep rufous ; middle of breast and upper breast, slaty-grey; rest of under parts, white; irides, brown; bill, black ; legs and feet, greyish-olive. Length, about seven inches. The male is a little less in size and duller in colouration. ;2o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 6re? pbalaropc\ The Grey Phalarope {Phalaropus fulicarius, Linnaeus) is a rare nomadic spring, autumn, and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Circumpolar Region. In winter it migrates down to the Equator. The adult female in summer has the head, nape, back, and scapulars, black- ish, broadly margined with rusty-red ; wing-coverts, blackish ; margined with white; white transverse bars on wings; cheeks, white ; tail, dark grey, dusky towards terminal end ; front of the neck and under parts, chestnut ; irides, dark brown ; bill, pale orange ; legs, feet, and membranes, which are lobed, yellow. Length, about eight inches. The adult male is less in size, and in summer is duller in colour than the female. The adult in winter lacks the chestnut, the plumage being black, grey, and white. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ®?6ter (Tatcbcn The Oyster Catcher {Hamatopus ostra/egKs, Linnceus) is a resident species in the British Islands, and is met with in Northern Europe as well as Central Asia. The adult in summer has the head, neck, upper portion of breast, mantle, and scapulars, brilliant black ; lesser wing-coverts, also black ; tail, black ; basal part of latter, white ; greater wing- coverts, part of secondaries, rum[), and upper tail-coverts, white; primaries, blackish, marked with white on inner webs; remainder of plumage, white; irides, crimson; bill, orange, getting richer in colour towards base ; legs and feet, pinkish red. Length, about sixteen inches. The female resembles the male. The young have the upper parts margined with buflish, and show no white on throat. 21 322 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRuff. The Ruff (Totatius pugnax, Linnaeus) is a rare summer migrant to the British Isles, and is also met with in the Northern Palearctic Region. It occurs in Africa and India during winter, and occasionally visits North-East America. This species varies so much in the colouration of the plumage that a detailed description would not be of very great BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Z^Z service. The adult male during the nesting season has the face covered with yellowish warty tubercules. The coloura- tion consists of brown of various shades — huffish, ochreous; white, black, glossy reflections of purple, green, etc. By reference to the plate it will be seen that a ruff of feathers encircles the face and neck of the male. Length, about ten or twelve inches. The female, known as the reeve, is smaller than the male, and has not a ruff at any time. (lurnatonc. The Turnstone {Sirepsiias interpres, Linnaeus), which in- habits the Circumpolar Region, is a common spring and autumn coasting migrant to the British Isles, and remains occasionally to winter. The adult male in summer has the mantle and scapulars rich chestnut, varied irregularly with black ; forehead, loral region, throat, nape, occiput, and hind neck, white ; upper tail-coverts, white, marked with black ; tail, white, with a black band near terminal end ; crown, black, with whitish margins; patch below eye, and gorget on lower neck and upper breast, black ; under parts, white ; irides, dark brown ; bill, blackish ; legs and feet, rich orange. Length, about nine inches. The adult female 324 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. is duller in colour than the male. The young in first plumage lack the chestnut which is characteristic of the adults in summer. BartranVe Sanbpipci\ JOH4^ Dil/fCAf/: Bartram's Sandpiper {Toianus Bartrami, Wilson) is an extremely rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Central Nearctic Region. The adult in summer has the ground colour of the upper plumage rufous-brown, mottled and streaked with black and white ; head, neck, and breast, rusty ; chin, abdomen, and vent, white; fore-neck, breast, and flanks have arrow- shaped markings of dark brown ; inner web of first BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 325 primary, white, with black bars; axillaries, white, barred with brown ; tail, buffish-orange, reddish-brown, and white, barred with black ; irides, hazel ; bill, yellowish-bufF, darker at tip ; legs and feet, bufifish. Length, about twelve inches. Curlew Sanbpipen The Curlew Sandpiper {I'ruiga subarquata^ Guldenstadt) is a common spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. It is also met with in the Polar Regions. The adult in summer has the mantle, neck, and head, chestnut, barred and streaked with grey and black; upper tail-coverts, white, with a huffish tinge, and broadly barred with black ; primaries and tail, ashy-grey, with wliite shafts ; beneath, chestnut, shading on sides of body and vent to a rusty colour, with markings of black ; irides, hazel-brown ; bill. 326 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. slightly decurved ; legs, feet, and claws, blackish. Length, about seven inches. The adult female is a little larger in size, and has a longer bill. Spottcb Sanbpipcn The Spotted Sandpiper {Totanus niacularius^ LinnLi^us) is an exceptionally rare straggling spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Nearctic Region. This sandpiper greatly resembles the common sandpiper, but the latter bird has the eighth and ninth secondaries nearly white, whilst the spotted sandpiper has all the secondaries broadly barred with ash-brown. Wood Sandpiper. The Wood Sandpiper {Toianus glareola, J. F. Gmelin) is a rare visitor to the British Isles during migration, only one instance being recorded of its having nested in the British Islands. It is also found in most parts of the Palearctic Region, and in autumn makes southward to Southern Africa, also India and the Philippine Isles. The adult differs from the green sandpiper in being smaller, having a shorter bill and wings and longer legs; upper parts darker, more olive and more mixed with white about the back; outermost tail- feathers, white, barred or spotted with brown on outer webs; axillaries, white, obscurely barred with brown; irides, light brown ; bill, blackish ; legs and feet, pale dull olive. Length, about seven inches. The female resembles male. (P. 327.) BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Moob Sanbpiper. 328 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (Brcen Sanbpiper* The Green Sandpiper (To/amis ochropus^ Linnaeus) is a spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is occasionally found in winter. It inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the general colour of the upper plumage dusky olive-brown, with streaks of white on head and neck ; mantle, scapulars, and inner- most secondaries, spotted with white ; primaries, brownish ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and outer tail-feathers, white ; remainder of rectrices, barred with blackish-brown ; under parts, white, with streaks of brown on neck and chest ; axillaries, brownish-black, with narrow bars of white ; irides, dark hazel; bill, blackish; legs and feet, dark greyish, tinged at the points with green. Length, about eight inches. The female is like the male. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 329 Common Sanbpiper. The Common Sandpiper {Tottuius hypoleucus^ Linn?eus) is a summer migrant to the British Isles, and also inhabits the Palearctic Region. The adult has the upper parts of a sandy brown, finely barred, streaked, and marked with zigzag lines of darker brown ; wings, brown tinged with blackish, and barred with white ; tail, brownish ; outer pairs of rectrices, barred with black and tipped with white ; eye- stripe, chin, and throat, white ; sides of neck and breast, suffused with pale brownish-greyish streaked with dark brown; under parts and axillaries, white ; irides, hazel; bill, blackish-brown ; legs and feet, olive, tinged with grey. Length, about seven inches. The female is similar to male. The young show buff margins on the upper feathers, and streaks on throat arc absent. 330 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. l^ellow^IegQcb Sanbpipen The Yellow-legged Sandpiper {Totanus flavipes, Gmelin) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. The adult in nuptial plumage closely resembles the wood sandpiper in the same stage, but is larger in size, and the former shows less white on the rump in proportion, and there are indica- tions of bars at all ages ; bill, black and slender ; legs and feet, clear yellow. Length, about ten or eleven inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Solitary San&piper. The Solitary Sandpiper {^lotaiuis solitarius, Wilson) is an extremely rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting North America. The nearest ally to this sandpiper is Totanus ochropus^ but it can be at once distinguished from the latter by the rumi) and upper tail-coverts, which are brown, sparingly spotted with white. Length, about eight inches. 332 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Bonapartc'6 Sanbpipen '"v./ ^ ' Jou/v Z/u/VCA/V . Bonaparte's Sandpiper {Tringa fusicolHs, Vieillot) is a rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. The adult in summer bears a close resemblance to the dunlin, but can easily be distinguished from that bird at all stages, the upper tail-coverts being white, with a few longitudinal streaks of dusky. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 33. Ipurpic San&pipci\ The Purple Sand[)ip(jr {Tringa maritiina, Gmelin) is a fairly common autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult in summer has the upper parts of plumage blackish, margined with rufous ; some of the feathers have creamy-white tips ; wings, brownish, with a white band ; rump, tail-coverts, and two central rectrices, deep brown : rest of rectrices, grey ; superciliary stripe, whitish ; under parts, white, with greyish-brown centres to feathers on breast and flanks ; irides, warm brown ; bill, deep brown ; base beneath, paler; legs and feet, dull yellow. Length, about eight inches. The adult in winter has the upper parts generally of a purplish-black, margined with grey; head and neck, light greyish-black ; breast and flanks, grey, margined with white; centre of abdomen, white. 334 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Broab^billeb Sanbpiper. The Broad-billed Sandpiper {Tringa plaiyrhyncha^ Tem- minck) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the general colour of the upper plumage blackish-brown, with chestnut margins to most of the feathers, with the exception of a few which are margined with white ; primaries and central rectrices, blackish ; outer tail-feathers, light ashy-brown ; eye-stripe, neck, breast, flanks, and under tail-coverts, white, spotted with dark brown ; remainder of under parts, white ; irides, hazel ; bill, which is deep brown and lighter beneath, is wide and flat and high at the upper base ; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about six inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 335 amcrican pectoral Sanbpipcr, The American Pectoral Sandpiper (TV/;/^^^? acuininata pec- ioralis, Say) is a rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits Arctic America, reaching Southern America in winter. The adult has the upper plumage deep brown, the feathers having rusty and cream coloured margins ; secondaries, dusky-black, slightly margined with white ; upper tail-coverts and two centre rectrices, blackish; remainder, greyish-brown, tipped with pale ochreous ; face and throat, dullish white, with streaks of brownish ; upper breast, whitish, tinged with brown, and closely streaked with blackish ; under parts, white ; irides, dark hazel-brown ; bill, orange-brown at base ; tip, dark brown ; legs and feet, yellowish-brown. Length, about nine inches. The adult sexes are alike. 33^ BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Sibenan pectoral Sanbpipen The Siberian Pectoral Sandpiper {Tringa acuminata^ Hors- field) is a very rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits North-Eastern Siberia. BufE=*brca6teb Sandpiper. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper {Tringa ritfescens, Vieillot) is an exceedingly rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. This sandpiper can readily be recognised by the under sides of the primaries and secondaries, which are pure white, beautifully mottled with dark brown ; the tail is cuneiform, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 337 and the centre rectrices black; remainder, light brown, enclosed by a zone of black, and edged with white. Length, about eight inches. The adult sexes are alike in colouration. Xittlc stint. ^UUCA-lv The Little Stint {Trin^a viinuta, Leisler) is a fairly common coasting migrant in spring and autumn, and inhabits the North-western Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the general colour of the upper parts blackish-brown, with chestnut margins on the feathers ; the chestnut on the upper tail-coverts is, however, scarcely discernible ; primaries, brown ; greater wing-coverts, tipped with white, forming a white bar across the wings ; two central rectrices, blackish-brown, narrowly margined with chestnut; rest of tail-feathers, grey ; under parts, white, tinged with bulT on the breast, the latter being faintly spotted with brown ; irides, hazel; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, between five and six inches. 22 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. american Stint. The American Stint {Tringa subminuta miniitilla^ Vieillot) is an exceedingly rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic Region. This stint closely resembles the little stint in colouration of plumage, and is considered by some naturalists to be merely a local race of Trinm minuta. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 339 ^cmminclVe Stint Temminck's Stint {Tri?iga Tenuniiicki^ Leisler) is a rare spring and autumn migrant to tlie British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in nuptial plumage has, as a rule, the general colour of the upper parts greyish-brown, several of the feathers more or less deep brown, barred and edged irregularly with creamy chestnut ; axillaries, white ; primaries, brown ; greater wing-coverts, tipped with white ; four central rectrices, deep brown ; remainder, white ; throat and breast, creamy brown, streaked with brownish ; under parts, white ; iridcs, hazel ; bill, blackish ; legs and feet, greyish- brown. Length, about five inches. 340 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Sanberling, The Sanderling {Tringa arenaria, Linnaeus) is a common coasting autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult in summer plumage has the feathers of back and scapulars, rufous, with patches and spots of black; primaries, blackish; greater wing-coverts, blackish-brown, tipped and margined with white ; forehead and crown, black, with light rufous and white margins to the feathers ; cheeks, neck, and upper breast, light chestnut, spotted with deep brown ; rest of under parts, white; irides, hazel; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, between seven and eight inches. The sanderling has no hind toe. The winter plumage is greyish on the upper parts and white below. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 341 Bunlin* The Dunlin {Triiiga alpina, Linnceus) is a resident species in this country, and is also found inhabiting the Palearctic Region and some portions of the Nearctic Region. The adult in summer has the feathers on the crown of the head black, with chestnut margins ; chin, white ; fore-part of neck and breast, greyish-white, streaked with dark brown ; abdomen, black ; remainder of under parts, white ; hind part of neck, mantle, and scapulars, black, broadly margined with chestnut ; greater coverts, with white tips ; wings and tail, greyish-brown, central pair of rectrices, darker ; irides, hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, from six to seven inches. The female is the same as the male in colouration, but a trifle larger in size. 342 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1knot The Knot {Tringa caimiiis^ Linnaeus) is a fairly common migrant to our shores in spring and autumn. It is supposed to breed on all suitable places in the North Polar Basin. The adult in summer has the feathers of the mantle varie- gated with black, chestnut, and white; crown and neck, reddish-brown, streaked with darker ; tail-coverts, white with bars of black ; sides of head, throat, and breast, chestnut ; remainder of under parts, whitish, with black mottlings ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, blackish. Length, about nine inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 343 1Rct)6bank, The Redshank {Toiaiiiis calidris, Linnceus) is a resident in tiie British Isles. It also inhabits the Palearctic Region, but wends its way to Africa to pass the winter. The adult in summer is pale brown on the upper parts, streaked profusely and barred with umber ; secondaries, nearly white ; rump, white flecked with dusky; rectrices, white, with blackish bars, central pairs tinged with light brown ; under parts, white, streaked on the neck and breast, and 344 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. with bars of umber on flanks ; irides, hazel ; bill, orange ; tip, black ; legs and feet, orange-red. Length, about eleven inches. 2)U6h^ IRebabanJ^. The Dusky Redshank {Totanus fiiscus, Linnaeus) is a rare spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, and also occurs occasionally in winter. It inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the upper parts of body blackish-brown, with white triangular spots BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 345 upon tips and margins ; the head and neck, brownish-black, tinged with grey; primaries, dusky black; rump and tail, white, the latter barred closely with blackish ; under parts, brownish-black, washed with grey; the feathers on breast and abdomen, edged finely with white ; irides, hazel ; bill, black; base beneath, orange-red; legs and feet, orange, tinged with brown. Length, about twelve inches. The adult female shows more white on the under plumage than the male. 6rcen6banft- The eirecnshank {lotanus g/ol/is, Linnaeus) is a summer migrant to the British Islands, although it is said that a few remain in Ireland during the winter. It is also found inhabiting the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the mantle and secondaries black, some of the feathers with greyish margins ; quills, blackish ; rump. 34<5 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. white ; tail, white, barred and mottled with brownish ; head and neck, white, tinged with grey and streaked with blackish-brown ; wing-coverts, deep brown ; breast, upper part of belly and flanks, white, spotted and streaked with greyish-brown ; irides, hazel ; bill, black ; legs and feet, olive. Length, about thirteen inches. The female has the upper parts less conspicuously marked than the male. The young have the feathers on back margined with tawny, and chest and flanks pencilled finely with dark grey. ffilacMailcb (Bobwit The Black-tailed Godwit {Limosa i)ielami?-a, I>eisler) is one of our regular spring and autumn coasting migrants to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the Western Pale- arctic Region. The adult male in nuptial garb has the crown reddish-brown, with streaks of black ; forehead, superciliary stripe, and chin, whitish ; cheeks, throat, and BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 347 breast, chestnut, the latter barred with blackish ; back and scapulars, blackish-brown ; feathers, barred and margined with chestnut; wings, deep brown, with a plainly defined white bar ; tail, white at base, black at terminal end ; abdomen, whitish, with bars of dark brown ; irides, hazel- brown ; bill, deep brown, orange at base ; legs and feet, black. Length, between eighteen and nineteen inches. The adult female in summer is larger than the male, and the colouration is much duller. Baivtaileb (Bobwit* The Bar-tailed Godwit {Liniosa rufa, Brisson) is a common spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, occurring also in winter. It inhabits the Northern and Western 348 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Palearctic Regions. The adult male in summer can readily be distinguished from the Black-tailed Godvvit by the tail- feathers, which are whitish and barred with brown. The adult female, which is larger than the male, also has the bars on the tail. Length, about fifteen inches. The young in first plumage have the tail barred. Moobcocft. ':£o/^c^fy --^ The Woodcock {Scolopax rusiicola^ Linnaeus) is a partial resident, nesting sparingly in various parts of the British Isles ; it also breeds in the temperate portions of the Pale- arctic Region. The adult has the fore part of crown ashy-brown ; hinder part and nape, pale chestnut, broadly barred with black bands ; remainder of upper parts variegated with rufous, ash, grey, and brown ; chin, white ; general colour of under parts, greyish-buff, barred with brown ; irides, deep brown ; bill, legs, and feet, dull flesh colour. Length, about fourteen inches. The adult female resembles the male. The young also closely resemble the adults. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 349 (Breat Snipe. - o^^v^"x^x7^;::3 N..^ V^ The Great Snipe {Scolopax major, Gmelin) is a rare ab- normal spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Western Palearctic Region. The adult bears a close resemblance to the common snipe in colouration of plumage, but can always be distinguished from that bird by the number of tail-feathers, which in the latter are fourteen, whilst in Scolopax major the number is sixteen. The great snipe is also a little larger, measuring from eleven to twelve inches. The young in first plumage closely resemble adults. 350 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common Snipe, The Common Snipe {Scolopax gallinago^ Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Isles, and is also found inhabiting the Palearctic Region. The adult has the crown of head dark brown, divided by a light ochreous streak running through the centre ; lores, dark brown ; eye-stripe, pale yellowish ; remainder of upper parts, cream-yellow, barred, mottled, and otherwise marked with white and shades of brown ; secondaries, tipped with white ; chin, white ; throat and breast, light brown, with markings of dusky-brown ; abdomen, white ; sides, barred with dusky ; tail consists BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 351 of fourteen feathers ; irides, hazel ; bill, light brown, darker at tip; legs and feet, brownish. Length, between ten and eleven inches. The female is similar to the male in colouration. The young show more uniformity in coloura- tion of the upper parts. 3ach Snipe. The Jack Snipe {Scolopax gallinula^ Linnceus) is a com- mon autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in colouration of plumage is very similar to the common snipe, but it is smaller in size, and has only twelve feathers in the tail. Hence it is easily distinguishable from Scolopax galUnago. Length, about eight inches. The adults of both sexes are alike in colouration. 352 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IReb^breaeteb Snipe. The Red-breasted Snipe {Ereimetes griseus, Gmelin) is a rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the North Central Nearctic Region. The adult in summer has the upper back and scapulars black, the feathers margined and varied with light reddish-brown and white; lower back, rump, and rectrices white, with transverse bars of black ; crown, blackish-brown, margined with light reddish-brown ; lores, brownish ; superciliary stripe and chin, white, suffused with chestnut-buff; shaft of first primary feathers, white ; front neck, breast, and flanks, light bufifish-chestnut, spotted and barred with deep brown ; centre of abdomen, whitish ; irides, hazel ; bill, deep brown ; legs and feet, olive-brown. Length, about ten inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ;53 Sreat Sftua. The Great Skua {Stercorarius cafarrhactes, Linnaeus) is only known, whilst resident with us, to nest in the Shet- lands, and is mostly met with on its way to and from more northern districts during autumn and winter. It also occurs in North-West Europe, and in the eastern parts of Arctic America. The adult has the general colouration of the plumage dark brown, with rufous or greyish margins to the feathers ; basal portion of quills, white ; irides, hazel- brown; bill, black; legs and feet, slate-black. Length, from twenty-two to twenty-five inches. The female is similar to the male. The young are said to be more uniform in colour than the adults. 23 354 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. BuffoiV6 Skua. ^" 3» '"^^ -^'"" """"""^ ^NS^ Buffon's Skua {^Ster cor arms Buffo7ii^ Boie) is a rather rare nomadic autumn and spring migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult has the upper plumage mostly brownish-grey; crown and nape, blackish; throat, white, tinged with yellow, the latter colour extending to the sides of the neck and across the lower ear-coverts to the nape ; primaries, dark brown; central rectrices (much elongated, narrow, and pointed), blackish; under parts, mostly white; flanks and under tail-coverts, brownish-grey; irides, brown; legs, yellowish-grey; feet, black; bill, deep horn colour. Length, from tip of bill to end of longest tail-feathers, about twenty- three inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. .55 1Ricbarb60iV6 Q\\x\n. Jo>-t^ Uiy^CMfs/ Richardson's Skua {Stercorarius Richardsoni\ Swainson) is one of our summer migrants. It inhabits both the Northern Palearctic Region and the Nearctic Region. The adult has the upper parts mostly of a slaty-grey ; neck, tinged with yellowish-buff; beneath, white; sides of belly, lower portion of latter, and under tail-coverts, tinged with brownish-grey; central tail-feathers, elongated and reaching considerably beyond the ends of wing quills, the latter having white shafts at all ages; irides, hazel; bill, greyish; tip, black; legs and feet, black. Length, from twenty to twenty-one inches. The female is similar to the male, but the two central rectrices are not so long. The young after the first moult have the basal half of feet yellow. 356 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. pomatorbinc Shua. JOHAf I?(//VCAA/. The Poniatorhine Skua {Stercorarms pomatorhmus, Tem- minck) is a more or less common autumn and spring coasting migrant to the British Isles, examples occasion- ally being met with in winter. It inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. This skua varies considerably in the colouration of the plumage. There is a light and dark variety, neither of which appears to be influenced by sex or age. The adult of the light form has the upper plumage mostly dark brown ; the two central rectrices reaching about four inches beyond the others, and twisted upwards ; crown, black ; neck, white, tinged with buffish-yellow ; breast, dullish white ; lower belly and under BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 357 tail-coverts, brown ; irides, brown : bill, deep horn colour ; tip, black ; legs and feet, black. Length, about twenty-one inches. IRittiwafte. Hf?^r J !^. JO^/^ JJUA/C. The Kittiwake {Lanes tridactyhts, Linnoeus) is a resident in the British Isles. It is also met with in the Northern Palearctic Region, as well as the North-east Nearctic Region. The adult in nuptial dress has the mantle and wings pale bluish-grey; head, neck, under parts, and tail, white; secondaries, with white tips; outer primaries on terminal portions, black; irides, hazel; bill, greenish-yellow; legs and feet, brownish dusky-green ; hind toe absent at all times. Length, from fifteen to sixteen inches. The female is similar to the male. The young in first plumage have the crown and nape deep grey, and the feathers on the back are margined with brown. 358 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IbciTino (5ulL John Dua/ca/V BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 359 The Herring Gull {Larus argentatus^ Gmelin) is a resident in the British Islands, and is also found on the Northern and Western European coasts, and upon the eastern portions of the Nearctic shores. The adult in summer has the mantle, scapulars, and wing-coverts, light French grey ; secondaries, tipped with white ; primaries, mostly black on outer webs of the first two ; inner webs, grey on the half towards the base; the first with a rounded triangular-shaped mark of white at the end; second and third, similar, but less in size ; remainder of plumage, snowy white ; irides, pale yellow ; bill, bright yellow ; angle of lower mandible, red ; legs and feet, flesh colour. Length, from twenty-one to twenty-five inches. The female is similar to the male. The young in first plumage have the general colour composed of white, greyish-white, and browns of various shades. Great Black-backed Gull. The Great Black-backed Gull {Larus marinus^ Linncxus) is a resident species, which is more widely dispersed through- out the British Isles in winter than during the breeding season. It is also met with in most parts of Northern Europe, as well as North-Eastern America. The adult in summer is similar in colouration to the Lesser Black-backed Gull, but its larger size and flesh-coloured feet at once distinguishes from the latter species. Length, about thirty inches. The female is similar in colouration to the male, but is a little less in size. The young have the colours of plumage composed of greyish-white, greyish-brown, and huffish, similar to Larus fuscus and Lams argentatus ; but the larger size is sufficient to define the species. (P. 360.) 36o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 6rcat Blacft=bacfteJ) (BulL BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 361 Xcsaer a5Iach:^bache£) (BulL The Lesser Black-backed Gull {Lams fuscus^ Linn^us) is a resident in the British Isles, but subject to much local movement after the nesting season. This gull is also found inhabiting most parts of Europe and North Africa. The adult in summer has the mantle and wings dark slate; innermost secondaries and longest scapulars, with white tips ; quills black, tipped with white ; remainder of plumage, pure white ; irides, light yellow ; bill, yellow, angle of lower mandible, red; legs and feet, rich yellow. Length, from eighteen to twenty-three inches. The female is a little less than the male. The young are similar to immature examples of Lanes argentaius^ but the general colouration of the upper parts is darker. 362 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common (5ulL uoH/y Du.vcAN The Common Gull {Lams amus^ Linnaeus) is one of our resident gulls in the British Isles, but moves about a great deal during the non-nesting season. It also occurs in the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in breeding dress has the back, wings, and coverts, pearl-grey; secondaries, broadly bordered and tipped with white ; primaries, mostly black, with white spots or tips ; remainder of plumage, pure white ; irides, hazel ; bill, yellow at tip ; base, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 36: greenish ; legs and feet, greenish-yellow. Length, about eighteen inches. The female is similar to the male, but is a little less in size. The young have the upper parts more or less marked with greyish-brown, dull brown, and greyish; primaries, dusky-brown ; tail at terminal end, banded with dusky-brown. Blacft^beabeb (Bull - - JOM/J Du/VCAfT^ The Black-headed Gull {Lams ridibundus, Linnceus) is another resident species in the British Islands, and, like many other of our resident gulls, is subject to much local, also southern movement after the nesting season. It is also met with in the temperate parts of Europe and Asia. The adult in summer plumage has the mantle and wing- coverts pearl-grey; quills, marked with white in centre, and 364 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. both webs margined with blackish; head and upper part of neck, dark brown; rest of plumage, white; irides, hazel; bill, feet, and legs, coral-red. Length, about sixteen inches. The female is similar to the male. The young have the upper parts more or less brownish, with paler tips to the feathers; tail, at terminal end, broadly banded with blackish. (Breat Blach-beabeb (5iUL JOHN Iju/vcaa^. Great Black-headed Gull {Larus ichihyaetus^ Pallas) is an exceedingly rare abnormal spring migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the South Central Palearctic Region and North-eastern Ethiopian Region. The adult in breeding plumage is described as having the head deep black ; mantle BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 365 and wing-coverts, dark grey; secondaries, tipped broadly with white; first quill, white, with a narrow band of black on outer web and a patch of black on inner web; next three primaries, with subterminal bars of black and white tips; remainder of plumage, white; a small white patch behind the eye; irides, deep brown; bill, rich yellow, black and red at the angle; legs and feet, greenish-yellow; webs, orange. Length of male, about twenty-seven inches. flDeMtcrrancan 5BlacJ^*beabc& (BiUL The Mediterranean Black-headed Gull {Lams inelafio- cephaliis, Natterer) is an exceptionally rare abnormal winter migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the South-western Palcarctic Region. The adult in summer has the head black; secondaries and wing-coverts, pearl-grey; primaries, white, excepting the first quill, which has a black line on outer web; rest of plumage, white; irides, brown; bill, 366 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. coral-red, and with a dark band in front of the angle; legs, brownish. Length, about seventeen inches. The adult in winter has the head streaked with dark brown. Bonaparte'6 (BiUL Bonaparte's Gull {Lams Philadelphia^ Ord) is an ex- tremely rare straggling winter and spring migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the Northern Nearctic Region. The adult in summer has the mantle pearl-grey ; hood, greyish-black ; primary coverts, white ; primaries, tipped with white ; plumage otherwise similar to Lams ridibuiidus ; bill, black. Length, about fourteen inches. The adult in winter is said to have the head nearly white. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 367 Xittle (5uIL ^5^c. The Little Gull {Lams minutus^ Pallas) is a comparatively rare autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the whole head black ; back, wings, and coverts, pearl-grey ; axillaries, greyish ; under parts of wings, brownish-black ; primaries, tipped broadly with white ; remainder of plumage, white, with a rosy flush on breast ; irides, hazel-brown ; bill, deep red ; legs and feet, bright red. Length, from ten to eleven inches. The adults in winter have the head white, with marks of grey on the nape. The young in first plumage are more or less marked with blackish, grey, and white ; tail, white ; terminal end with a broad band of black. 368 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Sabine's (BulL Sabine's Gull {Xema Sabini, J. Sabine) is a rare nomadic autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult in summer has the head and nape dark slate ; a narrow black collar round the neck ; mantle, scapulars, and most of wing-coverts, slate-grey ; primaries, black, with white on the outer half of the inner webs, and tipped with white ; tail, white, and forked ; rest of plumage, white ; irides, dark hazel ; bill, black at base ; bright red at tip ; legs and feet, slaty-black. Length, about fourteen or fifteen inches. The young in first plumage are more or less greyish, white, and black ; tail, tipped with black. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 369 1RO60'0 6ull. Ross's Gull {Rhodostethia rosea, Macgillivray) is an ex- ceptionally rare straggling winter migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Polar Regions. The adult in summer plumage has the head and neck nearly white, the latter encircled with a narrow black collar ; remainder of upper plumage, pearl-grey, changing into white on the tips of greater wing-coverts and secondaries ; outer web of first quill feather, black ; tail, white and cuneated ; under parts, white, tinged with rose colour on breast and abdomen ; irides, hazel; bill, black; legs and feet, bright red. Length, about thirteen inches. The adults in winter lack the black collar, 24 370 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. (5Iaucou6 (BulL -^-^if^ Joh;iJ Buncan The Glaucous Gull {Larus glaucus^ Fabricius) is an irre- gular straggling winter migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult does not differ to any great extent from the Iceland Gull, but it is larger in size, and the pro- portionably shorter wings only reach a little beyond the tail, whilst those of the Iceland Gull extend considerably beyond the end of the tail-feathers. Length, about thirty- two inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 37i 3celanb (Bull, The Iceland Gull {Larus leucopterus^ Faber) is a rare straggling autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the Northern Nearctic Region. The adult in summer has the mantle and wing-coverts pale grey; remainder of plumage, white; irides, light yellow; bill, yellow, red at the angle beneath ; legs and feet, pinkish flesh tint. Length, about twenty-two inches. The adult in winter has the head and neck streaked with grey. The young have the upper plumage creamy-white, more or less varied with light brown markings. 372 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 3vor? (5ulL The Ivory Gull {Fagophila eburnea, Phipps) is a rare no- madic autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the Circumpolar Regions. The adult has the whole of the plumage pure white ; irides, deep brown; bill, greenish -grey, tip, yellow; legs and feet, black. Length, from sixteen to eighteen inches. The young in first plumage are described as being nearly of a uniform ashy-grey. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 373 Sanbwicb ^ern. The Sandwich Tern {S/er?ia cantiaca^ Gmelin) is a summer visitor to the British Isles, and is also found inhabiting most parts of temperate Europe and Northern Africa, as well as South-Western Asia. The adult in summer has the fore- head, crown, and occipital feathers, rich black; back and wings, pearl-grey; tips of secondaries and upper quills, nearly white ; fore part of breast and under parts, tinged with delicate pink ; upper and under tail-coverts and tail, white and forked ; bill, black, tipped with pale yellow ; legs and feet, black. Length, about fifteen inches. The female is shorter in the tail, and shows less pink on breast. The young are pale brown above, varied with black ; primaries greyish-black, margined and tipped with white. 374 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRoeeatc Zcvn. -pUf/C^f The Roseate Tern {^Sterna Dougalli, Montagu) was at one time a fairly numerous summer visitor to the British Islands. This tern is found in most parts of the tem- perate and tropical regions of the two hemispheres. The adult in summer plumage has the back and wings pearly- grey; upper tail -coverts, tinged with grey; outer web of first primary feather, black; remainder, greyish; whole of inner webs with a streak of greyish next the shaft; other portions of quills, white; tail, greyish-white and forked, the outside feathers reaching about three inches beyond primaries ; forehead, crown, and occiput, rich black ; re- mainder of plumage, white, tinged on breast with a rosy hue ; irides, dark hazel ; bill, red, towards tip, black ; legs and feet, red. Length, from fifteen to seventeen inches. The female resembles the male. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 375 Common ^crit. S ^^^^=;_-r— ~ ^0/VCA-/V -^ The Common Tern {Siema hinindo, Linnaeus) is one of our summer visitors to the British Isles, and is found in most parts of the Palearctic Region, as well as the eastern portions of North America. The adult in nuptial plumage has the mantle and wings pearl-grey; crown and nape, black; rump and tail, white, longest tail-feathers, grey on outer margins ; under parts, greyish on breast and belly ; irides, dark brown ; bill and legs, deep orange red, blending on the former into blackish towards the tip. Length, from thirteen to fifteen inches. The female is similar to the male. The young have the crown and nape mottled with brownish ; the mantle is mottled with greyish. This tern can readily be distinguished from Sterna Arctica by its longer tarsi. 376 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. arctic Zcvn. The Arctic Tern (S/erna Arctica^ Temminck) is a summer migrant to the British Islands. It is also found nesting in the Circumpolar Region, moving in autumn southward along the coasts of the Atlantic to Africa. The adult in summer resembles to a great exten-t Sterna hirundo in colouration of plumage, but the upper parts are darker, and the tarsi are much shorter. The bill is uniform coral- red. Length, about fifteen inches. The female is a shade less in size. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 377 Xe66cr ^ern. The Lesser Tern {Sterfui minuta, Linnaeus) is one of our late summer migrants to the British Islands. It is also an inhabitant of the Palearctic Region, ranging eastwards to North India. The adult in summer plumage has the back and wings light grey; quills, deeper in colouration, and having white margins on inner webs ; forehead, white ; rump and tail, white ; crown of head, lores, and nape, black ; remainder of plumage, white ; irides, dark brown ; bill, black at tip, deep yellow at base ; legs and feet, orange. Length, from eight to nine inches. The female is similar to the male. The young have the upper parts mottled with blackish-brown ; bill, legs, and feet, brownish. 37S BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Caepian ZTern. OohN -Duncan _ - ^^'^N^^S'^^fe^^'^^^'"! 'I'U''^ The Caspian Tern {^Sterna Caspia, Pallas) is a rare ab- normal spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the temperate and tropical zones. The adult in summer has the crown and nape of the neck rich black ; upper parts and tail, which is slightly forked, pearl- grey; primaries, brownish, >vashed with grey; sides of the head, front of neck, and rest of under parts, white ; irides, dark hazel; bill, vermilion; legs and feet, black. Length, from nineteen to twenty-one inches. The forehead and crown of the adult in winter is white, streaked with black ; behind the ear-coverts there is a dark patch. The young in first plumage have ashy-brown mottlings on the upper parts ; forehead and crown, white ; under parts, white. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 379 (5uU=billeb TLcvn. c/o/VA^a/YCAyV, The Gull-billed Tern {Sterna a7igUca^ Montagu) is a rare straggling spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the Southern Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male in nesting plumage has the forehead, crown, and back part of the neck, rich deep black ; upper parts, pearl-grey; primaries, greyish; under parts, white; irides, brown ; bill, stout and black ; legs and feet, black. Length, from fourteen to fifteen inches. The adult in winter has the forehead and crown white, with grey streaks ; ear- coverts, patched with grey. The young on upper parts are more or less marked with various shades of brown ; under parts, white ; legs and feet, brownish. 38o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Soot^ Zcm. ^v Di//yc^^ The Sooty Tern {Sterna fidigiiwsa^ Gmelin) is a very rare straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the Oceanic tropical zone. The adult has the crown, lores, and nape, black; forehead and sides of the neck, white ; back, scapulars, wings, and remainder of upper plumage, mostly black; outer webs of the two elongated outer rectrices, white; under parts, white ; irides, hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, blackish. Length, about sixteen inches. The young are darker on the upper parts, with lightish tips to most of the feathers ; under parts, brownish. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 381 IRobb^ Zcvn. JoHri DuncAf^ The Noddy Tern {A?ious stolidus^ Linnaeus) is an exceed- ingly rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the Oceanic tropical zone. The adult has the general colouration of the plumage dark- brown, with a patch of grey on the forehead and crown ; the tail is graduated. Length, about sixteen inches. 382 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Mbi6ftere£) ^ern. The Whiskered Tern {^Hydrochelidon hybrida^ Pallas) is an exceedingly rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the Southern Palearctic and Oriental Regions, wintering in South Africa, and eastward has occurred as far south as Australia. The adult in breed- ing plumage has the head and nape of neck black ; upper parts, lightish-grey; sides of face, chin, throat, and tail, white; under wing-coverts, white; chest, light grey; belly and flanks, blackish; irides, dark hazel; bill, deep red; legs and feet, bright red. Length, about eleven inches. The adult in winter has the forehead white; crown, mottled with white; under plumage, white. The young in first plumage have the feathers of upper parts margined with reddish. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. !83 Blacft ^ern. The Black Tern {Hydrochelidon nigra^ Linnaeus) is a fairly regular spring and autumn coasting migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the South-western Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the head and neck deep slate- grey ; crown and nape, blackish; under wing-coverts, light grey; upper parts and tail, dark bluish-grey, the latter forked ; throat, breast, and abdomen, deep slate-grey ; vent and under tail-coverts, white; irides, dark hazel; bill, black; legs and feet, deep reddish-brown. Length, about ten inches. The adult in winter has the crown, nape, fore- head, cheeks, throat, and front neck, white ; remainder of plumage, as in summer. 384 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. mbxtc^mwQC^ BlacR Zcvn, 'U; ^v/vCA/y/^, \y The White -winged Black Tern (^Hydrochelidon kucoptera, Meisner and Schinz) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles, and inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region. The adult in summer has the head, crown, neck, nape, and back, rich shining black ; lesser wing-coverts and shoulders, white; greater wing-coverts and secondaries, grey ; axillaries, black ; upper tail-coverts and tail, white ; quills, blackish, tinged with grey ; under parts, black ; vent, white ; irides, dark hazel ; bill, red ; legs and feet, reddish-orange. Length, about nine inches. After the autumn moult the head and neck of this tern are white, marked on the nape with black ; mantle, slate- grey : under wing-coverts, greyish ; rest of under parts, white. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common (Buillemot. 385 The Common Guillemot ( Uria troile^ Linnaeus) is a well- known resident in the British Islands, and is also met with on the northern coasts of Europe and the North Atlantic. The adult in nuptial plumage has the head, neck, chin, throat, and remainder of upper parts, blackish-brown, sometimes tinged with greyish ; secondaries, tipped with white ; under parts, white ; irides, brown ; bill,^ blackish ; legs and feet, black ; webs of an olive tinge. Length, about eighteen inches. The female is the same in colour as the male, but is a trifle less in size. The young have shorter bills, and the legs are paler. 25 386 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 1Ringe& (Suillemot. The Ringed Guillemot {Uria lacrymans, Macgillivray) is generally conceded to be merely a variety of the common guillemot. It is readily distinguished by having a white ring round the eye, and also a white streak behind it. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 387 Brunniciya (Buillemot Brunnich's Guillemot (^Uria Bru?imchi\ Sabine) is an extremely rare nomadic autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the Circumpolar Region. The adult closely resembles the common guillemot in the colouration of the plumage, but can be distinguished from the latter by the short and stout bill, which has horn- coloured lines on the upper mandible, reaching on each side from the gape to the nostrils. 388 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Blach (Buillcmot The Black Guillemot {^Uria grylle, Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Isles, but moves about a great deal after nest- ing time. It also frequents the islands and coasts of the North Atlantic. The adult male in summer has the whole of the plumage black, with the exception of a large patch of white on the wing-coverts ; irides, hazel ; bill, black ; legs and feet, bright red. Length, from twelve to fourteen inches. The female is similar to the male. The young have the wing-patch marked with brown, and show brown on the head and neck ; legs and feet, dark brown. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 389 Xittle Huft. \7^'^ A/O^ The Little Auk {Mergulus alk, Linnceus) is an irregular straggling autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean basins. The adult in summer has the head, chin, throat, and upper parts, mostly glossy black; a small white spot over each eye ; some scapulars margined, and secondaries tipped, with white; under parts, below upper breast, also white; irides, hazel; bill, blackish; legs and feet, fleshy-brown; toes, lighter. Length, about eight inches. The winter plumage of the adult is similar to the summer plumage, except that the throat and chest are white. The young lack the white 39° BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. spots over the eyes, and the white on the scapulars, and the black parts are more sooty. puffitt. The Puffin {Frafercnia Arctica, Linnseus) is a resident in the British Isles, and it also inhabits the coasts and islands of the North Atlantic. The adult male in summer has the forehead, crown, occiput, upper parts, and a broad collar round the neck, black ; primaries, dark brown ; cheeks and chin, white, tinged with ashy-grey ; remainder of plumage, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 391 white ; irides, greyish ; bill, pale slate at base ; centre, yellow ; tip, orange-red ; legs and feet, orange. Length, from eleven to twelve inches. The female is similar to the male, but the bill is not so much developed. The young are duller in colouration, and show more grey on cheeks. IRasorbilL ~. ' JON/^ Z"l/\'CA//. The Razorbill {AIca iorda, Linnaeus) is a widely and commonly distributed resident species in the British Isles, and also inhabits most of the Palcarctic and also the 392 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES Nearctic Regions. The adult male in breeding plumage has the whole of the upper parts black, tinged in places with green; secondaries, tipped with white; a pure white Hne runs from the eye to the top of the bill; remainder of plumage, white; irides, dark hazel; bill, black, with a white band across the centre on both sides; legs and feet, blackish. Length, about seventeen inches. The female is like the male. In the young the white line in the front of the eye is scarcely discernible, and the white bands on the bill are absent. <5reat Uuk. ( See frontispiece. ) The Great Auk {Alca inipeimis^ Linnaeus), which is now undoubtedly an extinct species, formerly inhabited the North Atlantic basin. The adult has the general colour of the plumage similar to that of the razorbill, but its large size, and the oval patch of white reaching from the eye to the base of the bill, at once furnishes a means of identification. Length, about thirty-two inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 193 IfiUmar pctrcL xJOHf^ JDUf^CM. Y 394 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ( See preceding page. ) The Fulmar Petrel {Fulniarus glacialis, Linnseus) is a resident in the British Isles, and is also found in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions of the North Atlantic. The adult male has the back, upper part of wings, and tail, pearl-grey; quills, dusky; remainder of plumage, white; irides, brown; bill, greenish-yellow ; legs and feet, light grey. Length, from nineteen to twenty inches. The female resembles the male. The young in first plumage are similar to the adults, but are a trifle less in size. This species is subject to variation in the colour of the plumage. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 395 (Eappcb Ipctrel John Dua/ca/v The Capped Petrel {(Estrelata hcesitata, Kuhl) is a very rare irregular migrant to the British Islands, and is supposed to inhabit the South Atlantic. The adult has the crown of the head and nape, black; upper parts, deep brown; fore- head, cheeks, neck, rump, and upper tail-coverts, white ; central rectrices, mostly blackish, with the basal part more or less white and edged broadly with brown ; under plumage, white; bill, black; legs and feet, dull yellowish. Length, about sixteen inches. 396 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Cape ipetreL jOMti Dun c Ah/ The Cape Petrel {Daptioii capense, Linnaeus), a very rare straggler to the British Isles, is found inhabiting the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. This petrel can readily be identified by the sooty-coloured head, the variegated dusky and white of the upper plumage, and the pure white of the under parts. Collaret) petrel The Collared Petrel {Estrelata torquata, Macgillivray) is a very rare abnormal migrant to the British Islands. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 397 Bulwer'0 petrcL Bulwer's Petrel {Biihveria coIinnbi?ia, jMoquin-Tandon) is a very rare abnormal spring migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting the Northern Circum-tropical seas. The adult has the general colouration of the plumage nearly uniform sooty-black ; greater wing-coverts margined with paler; the tail consists of twelve feathers, and *is wedge-shaped ; irides, dark hazel ; bill, black ; legs and toes, deep reddish-brown ; webs, dark brown about ten inches. Length, 398 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Mil60iV6 petrel John QuNCAN. Wilson's Petrel {Oceanites Wilsoni^ Bonaparte) is a rare straggler to the British Islands, and is found inhabiting the Southern Seas. The adult has the general colour of the plumage sooty-black ; head and neck, lighter ; wings and tail (the latter nearly square), darker; wing-coverts and inner secondaries, edged with greyish; rump, upper tail- coverts, and patch on thighs, white ; base of outer rectrices, marked with white ; irides, deep hazel ; bill, black ; legs and feet, black ; webs, yellow at their bases. Length, about seven inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 399 Xcacb'6 3forh=taUeb petrel .ry^jpOf^Cfitt't Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel {Procellaria Leachi, Temminck) is a resident in the British Seas, and is also found inhabit- ing the North Atlantic and North Pacific. The adult male has the general colour of the plumage sooty-brown ; feathers of upper tail-coverts, white ; some of under tail-coverts, also white; tail, much forked; irides, brown; bill, legs, and feet, dusky-black. Length, about seven inches. The female is similar to the male. The young are said to resemble the adults. 400 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Stormy IpetreL ^(j/vcfi The Stormy Petrel {Frocellaria pelagica^ Linnseus) is a resident in the British Seas. It inhabits the Atlantic coasts of Europe, and also the Mediterranean. The adult male has the whole of the plumage black, with the 'ex- ception of a slight edging of whitish on wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts, and sides of rump, which are white ; irides, brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about five inches. The female is like the male. The young show less whitish on the wings, and not so much white on the sides of the rump. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 401 fIDabeira Storm petreL The Madeira Storm Petrel {^Oceanodroma cryptoleucura) has occurred in the British Isles. Mbite=beUie& Storm petrel. The White-bellied Storm Petrel {Pelagodroma mari?id) is now included in the list of British birds. Mbitc^tbroatet) (5rc^ petrel. The White-throated Grey Petrel {^Orstrelaia brevipes) is also included in the list of British birds. 26 402 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. flDany Sbearwater. Jo HA/ J7u/VC/iAf The Manx Shearwater {Ptiffinus angloriun^ Temminck) is a resident species in the British Seas, and is also found frequenting the whole of the North Atlantic, but is not so numerous on the Western as on the Eastern side. The adult has the upper parts nearly black ; sides of head and neck, mottled with ashy-black ; under parts, white ; irides, brown ; bill, brownish ; legs and feet, yellowish flesh colour. Length, about fourteen inches. The female resembles the male. The young are similar to the adults, but occasional examples show a more sooty colouration on the under parts. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 403 Soot^ Sbearwater. Johr/i' UuN'CA//. The Sooty Shezixw^iiQx {Pu_[/hius gn'seus, Gmelin) is a casual visitant during our summer to the British Islands, the breeding area being in the Southern Seas. The adult has the general colouration of the upper plumage sooty-brown, with lighter margins to most of the feathers of back, scapu- lars, and wing-coverts ; primaries and tail, blackish ; chin, whitish ; rest of under parts, greyish-brown, several of the feathers with paler centres ; irides, deep brown ; bill, dark horn colour ; legs and feet, brown ; webs, paler. Length, from sixteen to seventeen inches. It is said that the young closely resemble the adults. 404 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 2)u6ft^ Sbearwater* The Dusky Shearwater {Fiiffinus obscums, Gmelin) is an exceedingly rare abnormal spring migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Tropic Seas. This Shearwater in adult plumage closely resembles Puffinus anglorum in colouration, but is less in size, and the upper parts are darker. Length, about eleven inches. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 405 (Breat Sbcarwaten The Great Shearwater {Fuffinus major^ F. Faber) is an irregular visitor to the British coasts in autumn. It also inhabits the Atlantic Ocean. The adult is, above, ashy- grey, most of the feathers margined with paler ; neck, white, nearly all round; wings and tail, blackish; under parts, white, with pale brown markings on middle of belly and thighs ; irides, dark brown ; bill, dark horn colour ; legs and toes, brown ; webs, dingy flesh colour. Length, from eighteen to nineteen inches. Xcvant'e Sbcar\vatei\ Levant's Shearwater {Fuffinus yelkoiiajius) is an exceed- ingly rare visitor to the British Isles. 4o6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRcMbroatcb 2)i\>ci\ The Red-throated Diver {Cofyjjibus septentno?iaHs, Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Isles, and also inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region, as well as the Nearctic Region. The adult in nuptial plumage has the forehead, sides of head, and neck, grey ; crown, nape, and back of neck, streaked longitudinally with white and black ; centre portion of throat, rusty red; back, scapulars, lesser and greater wing-coverts, dusky-brown, marked more or less on the back with white spots ; quills, brownish ; under parts, glossy white ; irides, brown ; bill, black ; legs, black ; centre of webs, tinged with yellowish. Length, from BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 407 twenty-three to twenty-five inches. The female is similar to the male, but is a little less in size. The young have the feathers on the upper parts fringed with white. JSlacft^broatcb 3)ivci\ The Black-throated Diver {Colyjnhus Arctiais, Linnreus) is a resident in the British Islands, and is also found in the Northern Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult in summer dress has the upper parts blackish, witli bars and spots of white; crown and hind-neck, ashy-grey; chin and throat, black, glossed with purple, and crossed by a band of black and white streaks ; sides of neck and chest, longitudinally banded with white and black ; below 4o8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. chest, white ; irides, red ; bill, black ; legs and feet, blackish-brown. Length, about twenty-six inches. The female is similar to the male, but smaller. The young have the upper parts dull brownish-black, with light margins on some of the feathers ; and the scapulars and wing-coverts are spotted sparingly with white ; under parts, white. (Breat IRortbern 2)ivci\ JoHr/ DuNC The Great Northern Diver {Colymhus glacialis, Linnaeus) is a fairly common autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, and is found inhabiting North-Western Europe and North-Eastern America. The adult in summer has the BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 409 head and neck jet black, glossed with purple and green ; throat, with two white bands streaked longitudinally with black lines ; sides of chest, white, streaked with black ; upper plumage, mostly black, variegated with rows of white patches and spots ; under parts, white ; sides and flanks, blackish, marked with white ; irides, crimson ; bill, black ; legs and feet, olive-black. Length, from thirty-two to thirty-three inches. The male is larger than the female. In winter the throat-bands are absent. Mbite»=billeb Diver. %JCHN JJuNCAN. The White-billed Diver {Colymbus Adatnsi, Gray) is a rare nomadic winter migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the Circumpolar Region. The adult resembles the great northern diver, but in the former the bill is yellowish-white at all seasons and is deeper; besides, the under mandible is 410 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. much up-curved from the angle, and the white streaks on the upper throat-band number only six, whilst there are ten on the under. In Colymbus glacialis the white streaks on the upper throat-band number about twelve, and on the lower eighteen. The white-billed diver is also larger in size than the latter. (Srcat Creeteb (Brcbc* The Great Crested Grebe {Podiceps aisiatus, Linnaeus) is a somewhat locally distributed resident species in the British Isles, and is also found residing in most portions of the BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 411 Central and Southern Palearctic Region, moving southward to Southern Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The adult male in summer has the general colour of the upper parts brown, tinged with greyish, with paler margins ; wings, crossed with a white band ; forehead, crown, and crests, greyish-brown ; eye-streak, cheeks, and chin, white ; frill round the neck, chestnut, margined on hinder part with black ; under parts, silky white ; flanks, brownish, with mottlings of rufous ; irides, red ; bill, red ; legs and feet, olive. Length, from twenty to twenty-two inches. Red-necked Grebe. The Red-necked Grebe {Podiceps rtibt'icollis^ Gmelin) is a regular visitor to the British Isles during winter. It also occurs in most parts of Eastern and Northern Europe. The adult in summer dress has the crown, nape, and hind part of neck, blackish ; cheeks, chin, and throat, ashy-grey, margined with white ; upper parts, blackish-brown ; second- aries, white ; front part of neck, rich chestnut ; abdomen, white; irides, straw colour; bill, blackish, yellow at base; legs and feet, deep olive. Length, from seventeen to eighteen inches. The adult female in summer is similar in colour, but slightly less in size. The adult in winter has the throat white, tinged with grey. The young are similar. (P. 412.) 412 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. IRe&^necheb (Brcbe. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 413 Sclavonian (Srebc- John UutJCArJ The Sclavonian Grebe {Podiceps cornutus, Gmelin) is a straggling autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. The adult male in summer has the forehead, crown, and neck-ruff, glossy black ; lores, brownish-red ; occipital tufts, and streak behind the eye, yellowish-chestnut ; upper plumage, deep brown ; feathers, margined with paler ; quills, dusky ; secondaries, mostly white or dusky ; fore part, 414 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. sides of neck, and flanks, yellowish-chestnut ; remainder of under parts, glossy white ; irides, crimson ; bill, straight, and black ; under base and tip, red ; bare part between base of bill and eye, crimson ; legs and feet, olive ; webs, paler. Length, from twelve to thirteen inches. The adults in winter lack the neck-ruff and ear-tufts. BIacfi«==necftc& (Brcbe. The Black-necked Grebe {Podiceps nigricoUis, Brehm) is only a stray visitor to the British Islands in spring, and BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 415 occasionally in autumn. It is also found in the Southern Palearctic Region, and throughout the whole of Africa. The adult in summer has the upper parts dark brown ; secondaries, nearly all white ; four innermost primaries also show much white ; head and neck, black, tinged with olive on the crown ; behind the eye is a triangular patch of elongated feathers of a rich golden chestnut colour ; under parts, white, washed on the flanks with dull chestnut ; irides, red ; bill, black, and slightly recurved ; legs and feet, olive-green. Length, about twelve inches. The female is smiilar to the male. Little Grebe. The Little Grebe {Podiceps minor, Brisson) is a resident in the British Islands, in most parts of temperate Europe, and Asia. It is also met with in the Malay Archipelago, Northern Australia, Madagascar, and Africa. The adult in breeding plumage has the head, neck, and upper parts, dark brown ; secondaries, marked with white ; sides of face and fore part of neck, chestnut ; abdomen, greyish-white ; sides, mottled with deep brown ; irides, brown ; bill, black, lighter at tip ; legs and feet, deep olive. Length, from eight to ten inches. The female is similar to the male. The young show more brown above. (P. 416.) 4i6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Xittlc (Brebe. John XltiNCMN BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 417 Corn Crake. The Corn Crake {Crex pratensis^ Bechstein) is a well-known visitor to our shores in summer, and occasionally examples are met with in winter. It is also found throughout the Western Palearctic Region. The adult male is, above, dark brown, feathers edged with pale ferruginous; wing- coverts, chestnut; primaries, reddish-brown; throat, white ; patch over eyes, cheeks, and breast, light ash : centre of abdomen, nearly white ; flanks and under tail-coverts, marked with broad bars of yellowish-rufous and whitish mottlings; irides, light brown; bill, legs, and feet, pale 27 4i8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. pinkish brown. Length, about eleven inches. The female is a trifle less in size than the male, and the colouration is duller. Spotteb Crafte. The Spotted Crake {Crex poranza, Linnaeus) visits the British Isles in the summer, and a few individuals spend the winter with us. It is also found inhabiting temperate Europe and Western Asia. In winter it retires southwards to Africa and India. The adult male has the crown of the head dark brown; eye-stripe, cheeks, and throat, greyish; breast, brownish, with white spots; abdomen, greyish; flanks, marked with bars of brown and white; upper parts, mostly olive-brown, streaked with darker brown, and spotted minutely with white; irides, hazel; bill, yellow; base, orange ; legs and feet, olive. Length, from eight to nine inches. The female is duller in colour, and a little less in size than the male. The young are said to have the throat white and the spots fainter. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 419 Xittle Craftc. The Little Crake {Crex parva, Scopoli) is a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Islands, and inhabits the Western Palearctic Region. The adult male has the crown of the head, hind neck, and upper parts, olivaceous-brown ; centre of back, streaked broadly with black, and spotted here and there with white ; both webs of quills, clove-brown ; forehead, cheeks, sides of neck, and remainder of under parts, bluish-grey, with small spots of white on the thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts ; rectrices, with dark centres ; irides, red ; bill, green, reddish at base ; legs and feet, green. Length, about eight inches. In the adult female the eye is surrounded with light grey; throat, whitish; neck, breast, and abdomen, washed with buff; flanks, brown, with transverse bars of white. 420 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. BaiUon'6 Crahe, Baillon's Crake {Forza7ta Bailloni^ Vieill)is an exceedingly rare visitor to the British Isles, and is stated to have nested twice with us. This bird is also found in the Southern Palearctic Region and throughout Africa. The adult male has the crown, neck, and upper parts chiefly rufous-brown, marked with white and black streaks and spots ; sides of head, throat, and breast, bluish-slate ; outer web of first primary, white ; flanks and under tail-coverts, with boldly defined black and white bars ; irides, red ; bill, yellowish- green ; legs and feet, flesh colour, tinged with brown. Length, about seven inches. The adult female is lighter above than the male; under parts, browner,, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 421 Mater*raU. The Water-rail [RaHus aquaticus, Linnaeus) is a generally distributed resident species throughout the British Isles, and is also found in most parts of the Western Palearctic Region. The adult male has the top of the head and upper parts chiefly reddish-brown, streaked in centre of feathers with blackish; chin, nearly white; cheeks, neck, breast, and abdomen, lead colour ; flanks, barred transversely with black and white ; primaries, brownish ; tail, dark brown ; vent, pale buflish-white ; irides, hazel ; bill, red ; legs and feet, flesh colour, tinged with brown. Length, from ten to eleven inches. The adult female closely resembles the male, but is a little less in size. The young in first plumage have the under parts buffish-white, with bars of dark brown on the flanks. 422 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Carolina IRaiL The Carolina Rail {Crex Carolina, Linnseus) has one British record. It is a migratory species, and in summer is found inhabiting the Northern United States, as far north as lat. 62°; in winter it occurs in the Southern States, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies, BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 423 umaterbcn. The Waterhen {Galli?iula chioropus, Linnaeus) is a widely distributed resident species in the British Islands, and occurs in most parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The adult has the head, nape, and upper parts, dark slate-grey ; under parts, dusky ; flanks, brownish, with a few white streaks ; under tail-coverts, white ; horny shield on fore- head, scarlet ; irides, hazel ; bill, scarlet, yellow at tip ; legs, tinged with yellow and green ; tibia, scarlet. Length, about thirteen inches. The female is said to be richer in colour than the male. The young have the horny shield of a greenish tinge. 424 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Common Coot. The Common Coot [Fiilica atra, Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Islands, moving about locally after the nesting season. It is also found distributed over most portions of Europe and temperate Asia. The adult has the upper parts dark slate-grey; secondaries, tipped with white; under parts, slate-grey; horny shield on forehead, white ; irides, crimson ; bill, pinkish at base, white at tip ; legs and feet, dark green. Length, from fifteen to sixteen inches. The female is similar to the male. The young have the horny shield less developed, and show white on the throat. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 425 1Ring:==&ovc. The Ring-dove {Columba paiumbus, Linnaeus) is a resident species in the British Islands, and, with the exception of the extreme North, inhabits the whole of the Western Palearctic Region, also ranging through Western Asia. The adult has the upper parts bluish-ash ; rump, paler ; lower portion of neck and breast, bluish-grey, suffused with purplish-red and green ; sides of neck have a conspicuous patch of white ; wings, brownish ; wing-coverts, edged with white ; tail, blackish; centre of belly, light grey; irides, light yellow; bill, red at base, towards tip yellowish ; legs and feet, crimson. Length, from fifteen to seventeen inches. The adult female has the neck spot smaller, and the general plumage is duller. The young show no neck spot. 426 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Stocft^^bovc. ^^Z^iX'^^^^J^ The Stock-dove {Coiiunda (jenas, Linnaeus) is a resident in the British Islands, and also occurs throughout the Western Palearctic Region, and ranges into Asia. The adult male is readily distinguished from the ring-dove by its smaller size and absence at all times of the white neck patch, and from the wings showing no white. The wing bar rudimen- tary, rump, and general plumage, greyish-blue; fore part of breast, tinged with vinous purple ; sides of neck have plirple and green reflections; irides, red; bill, whitish, red at base ; legs and feet, crimson. Length, about thirteen inches. The adult female is duller in plumage and less in size. The young have the plumage browner, and lack the sheen on the neck. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 427 1Roch=bo\)e. u*r^>* The Rock-dove {Columba iivia, Brisson) is another resident in the British Isles, and is also found in most parts of the Western Palearctic Region, with the exception of the Far North. The adult male can at once be distinguished from the stock-dove by each wing having two broad black transverse bars, and lower back and rump being white. Irides, orange ; bill, blackish ; legs and feet, red. Length, from eleven to thirteen inches. The female is similar to the male, but is less in size. The young show no sheen on the plumage. 428 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ^urtIe=&o\)e. The Turtle-dove {Tiirtur auriiits^ Gray), which is one of our summer migrants, is met with in the Western Palearctic Region. The adult male has the head, neck, breast, and back, light wood-brown, tinged with pearl-grey; on either side of neck is a conspicuous patch of black feathers, with white tips; scapulars and wing-coverts, dark- brown, margined with cinnamon-brown; primaries, brownish- black; two centre feathers of tail, clove-brown; remainder of feathers have white tips ; breast, pale vinous-red ; belly, white; flanks, lavender; under tail-coverts, white; irides, rufous; bill, brown; legs and feet, crimson. Length, eleven or twelve inches. The adult female is similar to the male, but the plumage is duller in colour. The young in first plumage want the patch on the neck. BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 429 lEaetern ^urtlc=t)o\>c. The Eastern Turtle-dove {Turiur OrientaHs, Latham) is a very rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Isles it is also found inhabiting the North-western Oriental Region and South-eastern Palearctic Region. This dove may readily be recognised by the " broad chestnut-brown mar- gins of its dark central scapulars and tertials." Ipa66enocr pigeon. The Passenger Pigeon {Eciopis/es viigratorius^ Linnceus) is a migratory species, which has occurred several times"'h-i the British Isles, and in summer is found inhabiting North 430 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. America. The adult male has the head and upper parts bluish-grey, with spots of black on the wings ; primaries, brownish-black, edged with grey ; breast, cinnamon-rufous, changing into pale vinous on the remainder of under parts ; under tail-coverts, white. lpaUa6'6 Sanb (Brouse. •iMii((i