Chapter XV: Part 15

The little grebe, or dabchick, is less than the teal in size, and differs from the great crested grebe in about the same degree as the partridge does from the pheasant. It is the one common and well-known species of grebe in this country, being resident in suitable localities in all parts of the United Kingdom. In summer it is generally diffused, and is to be met with even on small pools and streams; in winter it shifts its ground, resorting to the rivers and larger bodies of water, and in very severe weather to the sea-coast.

It begins to breed at the end of April or early in May, and forms a floating nest of aquatic weeds and grasses close to the bank or among the reeds, but in most cases little care is taken to conceal the nest. The eggs are three or four to six in number, and are white, and rough in texture. Before quitting the nest the incubating bird invariably covers the eggs with wet leaves and grass, drawn in from the edge of the nest. It is hard to believe, with Seebohm, that the object of this action is to keep the eggs warm. The nest is, in very many cases, conspicuous to the eye, but on the slightest alarm the sitting-bird quickly and deftly draws the dead, wet materials like a blanket over the eggs, and, slipping off, dives silently, to come up at a considerable distance, usually where it cannot be seen. The nest then presents the appearance of a mere bunch of dead and water-soaked weeds or grass floating on the surface. I have examined a good many nests, and am convinced that the eggs are covered to hide them from the sight of egg-robbing animals, and that only the egg-robber that is neither furred nor feathered, and is well acquainted with the habits of the bird, is capable of seeing through this pretty deception.

The dabchick has the curious habit of holding its young under its wings and diving from the nest, to take them out of danger. Like its neighbour, the moorhen, the little grebe sometimes begins to breed a second time, before the young of the first brood are able to take proper care of themselves; and it has been observed in such cases that while one of the parents incubated the eggs in the new nest, the other has remained in charge of the partly grown young. The nest is used by the young birds after they are able to swim and dive, and while resting on it their parents bring them food.

* * * * *

The three remaining species of the grebe family (Podicipidæ) included in the avifauna of the United Kingdom are the red-necked grebe (_Podiceps griseigena_), a rare winter visitor to the British coasts; the Sclavonian grebe (_P. auritus_), a not uncommon winter visitor to Scotland, Ireland, and the north and east coasts of England; and the eared grebe (_P. nigrocollis_), an irregular visitor, usually in spring, to the southern and eastern districts of England.

Razorbill.

Alca torda.

Upper parts greenish black; deep brown on the throat; under parts white. Length, seventeen inches.

* * * * *

The black and white razorbill, with curiously shaped massive beak, viewed sitting on a rock, its body inclined a little forward, may give us some idea of the great auk’s appearance. It is less than half the size of the vanished bird, but is its nearest living representative. Throughout the year the razorbill is not an uncommon species in the seas that surround the British Islands, but is very much less abundant than the common guillemot, which it most nearly resembles in its habits. That it will become still less common than it is at present is greatly to be feared. For some time past it has been decreasing in numbers on all our coasts, from what cause is not accurately known. On this subject Howard Saunders writes: ‘This may partly be owing to severe visitations of mortality which have from time to time affected many sea-birds, but especially the present species.’ Whether killed by an epidemic to which they are liable, or starved to death, as some naturalists think, it is certain that they perish in large numbers. On the south coast I have seen their dead bodies, washed up by the waves during a severe gale, lying in hundreds on the beach; and the same distressing spectacle has been witnessed by others at various points on the coast.

The razorbill is a handsome species, with shiny white under-plumage, the black upper parts relieved by a stripe of pure white on the head and a narrow white bar across the wing. The black, axe-like beak is also crossed in its deepest part with a white mark in the form of a crescent. Its life is mostly passed in the water, where it sits high and floats buoyantly like a duck. It feeds chiefly on small fishes, for which it dives, and when pursuing them uses the wings as well as feet in propulsion. On the sea the razorbills are usually seen in small flocks; they fly like diving ducks, with rapidly-beating wings, in a line, one bird behind the other, and so close as to be almost touching. In March they resort to the bold headlands and precipitous rocky cliffs which are their breeding-places. They are then seen associating with guillemots and puffins; for, albeit these three auks differ in appearance and breeding-habits, they seem to be aware of their relationship, and mix together in a friendly way. It may, however, be noticed that on a ledge where many guillemots and a few razorbills are assembled, as a rule the latter form a little group by themselves. This species is somewhat silent, although they occasionally utter long cries, somewhat gull-like in character, but lower and more guttural. When disturbed they emit a different sound, peculiar and human-like in tone, resembling the low moans of a person in pain.

A single egg is laid by the razorbill, and is placed in a cranny, sometimes in a hole several feet deep; occasionally the egg is deposited in a hollow on a rocky ledge, and in such situations razorbills and guillemots are found breeding side by side. The egg is large and handsome, the ground-colour white, spotted and blotched with different shades of blackish and deep reddish brown, and sometimes chocolate-colour. Both birds take part in incubating. An observer who has studied the habits of this bird says that in most cases the young fly down to the sea, usually early in the morning, and being once there, do not return to the rocks, as their wings are not then strong enough to enable them to mount upwards. ‘Sometimes,’ he writes, ‘when the young one is obstinate, the mother will take it by the back of the neck, and fly down to the sea.’ (_Zoologist_, 1871, p. 2427.) He adds that the parent teaches the young bird to dive by taking it by the neck and diving with it.

The breeding season over, the birds do not return to the rocks until the next spring.

Common Guillemot.

Lomvia troile.

Head, neck, and upper parts blackish brown; under parts white. Length, eighteen inches.

* * * * *

The common guillemot is the most abundant of the four species of auks which inhabit the British Islands. Less handsome and striking in appearance than the razorbill, in its habits it is just as interesting. It is found in the breeding season on all parts of our coasts where extensive rocky cliffs and headlands exist, and it has not been driven away by persecution. At some points on the coast, as at Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head, and at the Farne Islands, and other localities farther north, the guillemots are still exceedingly numerous; south of Yorkshire they have greatly diminished in numbers, and several of the old breeding-stations have been abandoned.

On the sea their habits are similar to those of the razorbill: they swim, dive, and fly in strings in the same manner. In appearance the two species differ considerably. The guillemot has a dusky brown or mouse-coloured upper plumage, and a straight, sharp beak, very different to the massive weapon of the razorbill.

Early in spring the guillemots begin to gather from the neighbouring seas at their old breeding-stations on the summits and sides of cliffs that face the ocean. Of all birds that breed in communities, they are the most social, or, at all events, crowd closest together. Where they breed on the side of the cliff, as at Flamborough, they may be seen standing in close rows and groups on every ledge or jutting rock large enough to afford them a footing. A strange and fascinating spectacle is presented when the cliff is looked at from below, and the guillemots are seen in thousands, row above row, lessening in size by distance until, near the summit of the vast precipice, they appear no bigger than dippers; all standing erect, their backs to the dark stone wall, and their shiny, white breasts to the sea. It is also strange to see them gathered on the flat, table-like tops of the ‘Pinnacles,’ a group of isolated, precipitous rocks at the Farnes; for here the space they have is not sufficient to properly accommodate the vast number of birds that resort to it. Their appearance forcibly reminds the spectator of a human crowd on some fête day in a populous city; but the bird-crowd does not move or sway: each guillemot keeps its place, for it is standing over its own egg, which must be kept warm at any cost. In spite of this fixity they are all very alert and lively, turning their beaks about this way and that, and, when alarmed, all bobbing and bowing their heads as if to salute the intruder. Although silent birds when on the sea, the guillemots become loquacious at their breeding-grounds. They are very excitable, and when two or three neighbours quarrel, as they frequently do, or a bird returned from the sea drops on to a ledge where others are standing, or when male and female meet again after a separation of a few hours, there is a great deal of noise. They utter a hoarse, long-drawn cry, like the beginning of a dog’s howl before he has cleared his voice; also a succession of laughter-like notes, and other sounds resembling the cries, guttural and clear, of the black-headed gull; and, sometimes, short, barking notes like those of geese and sheldrakes.

Like most short-winged, heavy-bodied birds, they fly straight to their point, rushing violently through the air with rapidly-beating wings. It is amusing to watch a bird flying in from the sea, and attempting to alight on a ledge of rock already crowded; one or two birds at the spot the new-comer attempts to drop on threaten to strike with their beaks. This demonstration prevents him from coming down among them; and, being incapable of gliding off to one side to drop on to some other spot, or of suspending himself in the air for a few moments, he is compelled to drop down without touching the ledge, sweep round, and go straight out to sea again, and after flying a distance of three or four hundred yards, or farther, to circle round and come back to the ledge a second time. The frustrated bird is often seen to fly right away out of sight.

The single egg of the guillemot is deposited on the naked rock, without any nest, often dangerously near the edge. The sitting-birds are very careful when leaving the rock to push the eggs from under them; but when suddenly startled, as by the report of a gun fired from a ship or boat for the amusement of cockney excursionists, the eggs may be thrown off the ledge, and in some instances have been seen to fall in a shower down the cliff-side. The guillemot lays a handsome pear-shaped egg, very large for the bird. No other bird lays eggs so various in colour; so greatly do they vary that two eggs cannot be found quite alike, even among hundreds. The ground-colour in different specimens is white, cream, stone-colour, pale blue, reddish, and many shades of green, from a strong, bright green to olive-green. The egg is spotted and blotched with brown, black, and deep red, and grey. The guillemot when incubating does not lie on its egg like most birds, but stands with the egg between its legs, which are placed very far back, as in all auks, divers, and grebes. It is a pretty and amusing sight to watch the guillemot, when returning to her egg after a short absence, walk on to it, and adjust and readjust it a score of times, using her beak and chin for the purpose, before she is satisfied that it is effectually covered. Incubation lasts a month, and only one young bird is reared in the season; if the first egg is taken she will lay a second, and sometimes a third.

In strange contrast to the guttural croaking and barking cries of the adults is the language of the young bird. Its hunger-note is a far-reaching, sandpiper-like cry, clear, tremulous, and musical. In imitation of this sound the young bird is called a _willock_; and it is supposed that the name of guillemot, which is of French origin, is also derived from the young bird’s cry.

Black Guillemot.

Uria grylle.

Plumage sooty black, except a patch on the wing-coverts, which is white with a black bar; bill black; legs vermilion-red. Length, fourteen inches.

* * * * *

The black guillemot is much less abundant than the last species. On the south and east coasts it is extremely rare; its principal breeding-stations are on the west coast of Scotland; and it also breeds on the north and west coasts of Ireland. It differs greatly from the common guillemot in size, being scarcely more than half as large as that species; also in colouring, the whole plumage, except a broad white patch on the wing, being glossy black, the legs and feet bright red. It breeds in the same situations as the common guillemot, but is not so gregarious; and in its nesting-habits it resembles the razorbill, laying its eggs in a hole or cranny in the rocks, or beneath a rock on the soil. Two eggs are laid, in ground-colour white, or pale stone, or pale green, spotted and blotched with brown and grey. The young are covered with a greyish black down, and their first plumage is mottled black and white.

The black guillemot frequents the seas in the vicinity of its breeding-station throughout the year.

Brünnich’s guillemot (_Lomvia bruennichi_) is a very rare straggler from the arctic regions to the northern islands and coasts of Scotland.

The little auk (_Margulus alle_) is an irregular visitor, sometimes in considerable numbers, to the British coasts, especially in the north. It is a circumpolar species, and straggles southwards in winter, but seldom approaches the British Islands, except in very severe weather.

Puffin.

Fratercula arctica.

Crown, collar, and upper parts black, all the rest white; bill, bluish at the base, yellow in the middle, bright red at the tip; legs and feet orange-red. Length, twelve inches.

* * * * *

Among British birds, whether sea or land, the puffin is the most singular in appearance--a small auk, compact in build, conspicuous in black and white plumage, broad collar, white, owlish face, and great beak, short and adze-shaped, but massive as a toucan’s. The brilliant colours of this beak, too--red with orange bars--give it a curious resemblance to the enormous organ of the tropical bird. One may look at the puffin almost daily, as he stands on the rocks, always with something of surprise at his strikingly handsome yet grotesque appearance. The fanciful idea suggests itself that the bird is a masquerader; that the visible, brilliantly coloured beak has been artificially made, and put on over the natural beak, just as in the case of a human masquerader a large, gaily coloured, artificial nose is sometimes placed over the natural organ. And the puffin’s beak is, in fact, something of a mask, or superimposed ornament; and after the breeding season its surface peels off in horny plates, and is shed like the deciduous bark of certain trees. The bird’s beak in winter is moderate in size and dull-coloured.

The puffin is a spring visitor to our coasts, and after rearing their young the birds scatter over the sea and journey southwards. The puffins found on the east coasts of England and Scotland during the winter months are probably migrants from more northern latitudes. Puffins are found in summer in most localities on our coasts where razorbills and guillemots collect; on the south coast they are rare, but increase as we go north, until at St. Kilda they are found gathered in incalculable numbers. As a cliff-breeder the puffin deposits its egg in a hole or cranny in the rocks like the razorbill, but never on an exposed ledge, as the guillemot always, and the razorbill sometimes, does. Sometimes they take forcible possession of rabbit-burrows among sandhills, driving the owners out; but they prefer making their own burrows in a soft peaty soil, such as they find at St. Kilda and in many other localities. In March or April they return from their wanderings on the sea and begin the great business of the year. Where they are in large numbers and make their burrows near each other the soft soil is so undermined by them that it is difficult to walk over the ground without breaking through the turf and sinking almost knee-deep in their holes at every few steps. When engaged in digging the birds are so intent on their work that they may be approached very closely, and sometimes even taken with the hand. The burrow is three or four feet in length, sometimes more, and at the extremity a single egg is laid, oval in form, large for the bird’s size, and white, faintly spotted and streaked with grey. The young bird is covered with black down, and has a comparatively small beak, of a dark colour. He is a squat, lumpish creature, owlish in appearance. When fishing to supply its young the parent puffin has the curious habit and faculty of keeping the small fishes it catches in its beak, where they may be seen as the bird swims on the sea, their tails and a portion of their bodies protruding at the sides of the beak and mouth. How it manages to hold several little fishes in this way and go on diving and catching others is a puzzle. On arriving at the burrow the fishes are placed on the floor inside, or at the entrance, where the young bird sits waiting for its parent, and are then picked up one by one and put into the open, hungry mouth.

INDEX.

Aberdevine, 127

_Acanthyllis caudacuta_, 179

_Accentor collaris_, 86

---- _modularis_, 84

_Accipiter nisus_, 206

_Acredula caudata_, 92

---- _rosea_, 90

_Acrocephalus aquaticus_, 82

---- _palustris_, 82

---- _phragmitis_, 80

---- _streperus_, 79

---- _turdoïdes_, 82

_Aëdon galectodes_, 79

_Ægialitis cantiana_, 287

---- _curonica_, 288

---- _hiaticula_, 287

---- _vocifera_, 288

_Alauda arborea_, 176

---- _arvensis_, 174

---- _cristata_, 178

_Alca torda_, 345

_Alcedo ispida_, 188

Alpine accentor, 86

American bittern, 226

---- goshawk, 216

---- hawk-owl, 199

---- stint, 317

---- wigeon, 238

_Ampelis garrulus_, 114

_Anas boscas_, 239

_Anser albifrons_, 230

---- _brachyrhynchus_, 229

---- _cinereus_, 227

---- _segetum_, 228

_Anthus campestris_, 113

---- _obscurus_, 112

---- _pratensis_, 108

---- _richardii_, 115

---- _spipoletta_, 113

---- _trivialis_, 110

Aquatic warbler, 82

_Aquila chrysaëtus_, 204

---- _clanga_, 216

_Archibuteo lagopus_, 216

Arctic tern, 317

_Ardea alba_, 226

---- _bubulcus_, 226

---- _cinerea_, 223

---- _gazetta_, 226

---- _purpurea_, 226

---- _ralloïdes_, 226

_Ardetta minuta_, 226

_Asio brachyotus_, 197

---- _otus_, 196

_Astur palumbarius_, 216

_Athene noctua_, 199

Avocet, 316

Auk, little, 351

Baillon’s crake, 278

Barnacle goose, 232

Barn-owl, 193

Barred warbler, 70

---- woodpecker, 183

Barrow’s goldeneye, 246

Bar-tailed godwit, 316

Bartram’s sandpiper, 317

Bean-goose, 228

Bearded titmouse, 89

Bee-eater, 190

Belted kingfisher, 189

_Bernicla brenta_, 230

---- _leucopsis_, 232

_Bernicla ruficollis_, 227

Bewick’s swan, 234

Big plover, 282

Bittern, American, 226

---- common, 224

---- little, 226

Black-bellied dipper, 88

Black-billed cuckoo, 193

Blackbird, 47

Blackcap, 67

Black crow, 167

---- eagle, 204

---- grouse, 273

---- guillemot, 350

Black-headed bunting, 154

---- gull, 328

Black kite, 216

---- redstart, 59

---- scoter, 253

---- stork, 226

---- swift, 179

Black-tailed godwit, 316

Black tern, 323

Black-throated diver, 341

---- thrush, 51

---- wheatear, 54

Black-winged stilt, 316

Blue rock, 262

Bluethroat, 59

Blue titmouse, 97

Blue-winged teal, 244

Bonaparte’s sandpiper, 317

Bonxie, 331

_Botaurus lentiginosus_, 226

---- _stellaris_, 224

Brambling, 137

Brent goose, 230

Broad-billed sandpiper, 317

Brown owl, 198

Brünnich’s guillemot, 351

_Bubo ignavus_, 199

Buff-backed heron, 226

Buff-breasted sandpiper, 317

Buffel-headed duck, 246

Buffon’s skua, 333

Bullfinch, 142

_Bulweria columbina_, 339

Bulwer’s petrel, 339

Bunting, black-headed, 154

---- cirl, 150

---- corn, 146

---- Lapland, 154

---- little, 154

---- ortolan, 154

---- reed, 151

---- snow, 152

---- yellow, 148

Bustard, great, 281

---- little, 281

---- Macqueen’s, 281

Butcher-bird, 114

_Buteo vulgaris_, 202

Buzzard, 202

---- honey, 217

---- moor, 216

_Caccabis rufa_, 265

_Calcarius lapponica_, 154

_Calendrella brachydactyla_, 178

_Calidris arenaria_, 308

Capercaillie, 275

Capped petrel, 339

_Caprimulgus ægyptius_, 181

---- _europæus_, 179

---- _ruficollis_, 181

_Carduelis elegans_, 126

_Carpodacus erythrinus_, 144

Carrion crow, 166

Caspian tern, 323

_Certhia familiaris_, 124

_Ceryle alcyon_, 189

Chack-bird, 54

Chaffinch, 134

_Charadrius fulvus_, 286

---- _pluvialis_, 284

Chat, river, 80

_Chaulelasmus streperus_, 241

_Chelidon urbica_, 121

_Chen albatus_, 227

Chiffchaff, 74

Chit-perle, 322

Chough, 157

_Chrysometris spinus_, 127

Churn-owl, 181

_Ciconia alba_, 226

---- _nigra_, 226

_Cinclus aquaticus_, 86

---- _melanogaster_, 88

_Circus æruginosus_, 216

---- _cineraceus_, 201

---- _cyaneus_, 199

Cirl bunting, 150

_Clangula albeola_, 246

---- _glaucion_, 249

---- _islandica_, 246

Clod-hopper, 54

Coal-mouse, 95

Coal-titmouse, 94

_Coccothraustes vulgaris_, 130

_Coccystes glandarius_, 193

_Coccyzus americanus_, 193

---- _erythrophthalmus_, 193

Collared pratincole, 284

_Columba œnas_, 261

---- _livia_, 261

---- _palumbus_, 259

_Colymbus arcticus_, 341

---- _glacialis_, 340

---- _septentrionalis_, 342

Common bittern, 224

---- curlew, 314

---- guillemot, 347

---- gull, 326

---- sandpiper, 309

---- scoter, 253

---- sheldrake, 235

---- skua, 330

---- snipe, 299

---- tern, 319

Coot, 280

_Coracius garrula_, 190

Cormorant, 218

---- green, 220

Corn-bunting, 146

Corncrake, 278

Cornish chough, 157

_Corvus corax_, 172

---- _cornix_, 167

---- _corone_, 166

---- _frugilegus_, 168

---- _monedula_, 163

_Cosmonetta histrionica_, 246

_Cotile riparia_, 122

_Coturnix communis_, 269

Crake, Baillon’s, 278

---- corn, 278

---- spotted, 277

Crane, 281

Cream-coloured courser, 284

Creeper, 124

Crested lark, 178

---- titmouse, 98

_Crex pratensis_, 278

Cricket teal, 243

Crossbill, 144

Crow, black, 167

---- carrion, 166

---- grey, 167

---- hooded, 167

---- Royston, 167

Cuckoo, 190

---- black billed, 193

---- great spotted, 193

---- yellow-billed, 193

_Cuculus canorus_, 190

Curlew, common, 314

---- Esquimaux, 317

---- stone, 282

Curlew-sandpiper, 303

_Cursorius gallicus_, 284

Cushat, 258

_Cyanecula suecica_, 59

---- _wolfi_, 59

_Cygnus bewickii_, 234

---- _immutabilis_, 233

---- _musicus_, 234

---- _olor_, 233

_Cypselus apus_, 178

---- _melba_, 179

Dabchick, 344

_Dafila acuta_, 238

Dartford warbler, 70

_Daulias luscinia_, 62

_Dendrocopus major_, 181

---- _minor_, 183

Desert wheatear, 54

Develing, 179

Dipper, 86

---- black-bellied, 88

Diver, black-throated, 341

---- great northern, 340

---- red-throated, 342

Dotterel, 289

Dove, ring, 258

---- rock, 261

---- stock, 261

---- turtle, 262

Double snipe, 298

Duck, buffel-headed, 216

---- eider, 251

---- harlequin, 246

---- long-tailed, 250

---- tufted, 246

---- white-eyed, 346

---- wild, 239

Dunlin, 300

Dunnock, 85

Dusky shearwater, 337

Eagle, black, 204

---- golden, 204

---- spotted, 216

---- white-tailed, 205

Eagle-owl, 199

Eared grebe, 345

Eastern plover, 286

_Ectopistes migratorius_, 264

Egyptian nightjar, 181

---- vulture, 216

Eider duck, 251

_Elanoides furcatus_, 217

_Emberiza cirlus_, 150

---- _citrinella_, 148

---- _hortulana_, 154

---- _melanocephala_, 154

---- _miliaria_, 146

---- _pusilla_, 154

---- _rustica_, 154

---- _schœniclus_, 151

_Endromias morinellus_, 289

Esquimaux curlew, 317

_Erithacus rubecula_, 59

Erne, 205

European hawk-owl, 199

_Falco æsalon_, 211

---- _peregrinus_, 208

---- _subbuteo_, 210

Falcon, Greenland, 217

---- Iceland, 217

---- peregrine, 208

---- red-crested, 217

---- red-footed, 217

Fallowchat, 54

Fieldfare, 46

Finch, mountain, 137

Firecrest, 74

Firetail, 58

Flycatcher, pied, 118

---- spotted, 116

Fork-tailed petrel, 335

_Fratercula arctica_, 351

French partridge, 265

_Fringilla cœlebs_, 134

---- _montifringilla_, 137

_Fulica atra_, 280

_Fuligula cristata_, 246

---- _ferina_, 248

---- _marila_, 247

---- _rufina_, 246

Fulmar, 337

_Fulmarus glacialis_, 337

Furze-wren, 70

Gadwell, 241

_Gallinago cælestis_, 299

---- _major_, 298

_Gallinula chloropus_, 279

Gannet, 221

Garden warbler, 69

Garganey, 243

_Garrulus glandarius_, 158

_Gecinus viridis_, 184

_Glareola pratincola_, 284

Glaucous gull, 329

Glead, 207

Glossy ibis, 226

Goatsucker, 179

Goldcrest, 72

Golden-crested wren, 72

Golden eagle, 204

Goldeneye, 249

Golden oriole, 114

Golden plover, 284

Goldfinch, 126

Goosander, 255

Goose, barnacle, 232

---- bean, 228

---- brent, 230

---- grey lag, 227

---- pink-footed, 229

---- solan, 221

---- white-fronted, 230

Goshawk, 216

Grasshopper warbler, 82

Great black-backed gull, 327

---- black-headed gull, 330

---- bustard, 281

---- crested grebe, 342

---- grey shrike, 116

---- northern diver, 340

---- reed-warbler, 82

---- skua, 330

---- snipe, 298

---- spotted cuckoo, 193

---- spotted woodpecker, 181

---- titmouse, 92

---- white heron, 226

Greater shearwater, 337

---- whitethroat, 65

Grebe, eared, 345

---- great crested, 342

---- little, 344

---- red-necked, 345

Green cormorant, 220

Greenfinch, 128

Greenland falcon, 217

---- redpole, 140

Green plover, 290

---- sandpiper, 310

Greenshank, 312

Green-winged teal, 244

Green woodpecker, 184

Grey-backed crow, 167

Grey crow, 167

---- lag-goose, 227

---- phalarope, 295

---- plover, 286

---- wagtail, 105

Griffon vulture, 215

Grouse, black, 273

---- red, 272

_Grus communis_, 281

Guillemot, black, 350

---- Brünnick’s, 351

---- common, 347

Gull-billed tern, 323

Gull, black-headed, 330

---- common, 326

---- glaucous, 329

---- great black-backed, 327

---- great black-headed, 330

---- herring, 324

---- Iceland, 217

---- ivory, 329

---- laughing, 329

---- lesser black-backed, 325

---- Sabine’s, 330

_Gyps fulvus_, 216

Gyrfalcon, 217

_Hæmatopus ostralegus_, 293

Half-curlew, 313

_Haliaëtus albicilla_, 205

_Harelda glacialis_, 250

Harlequin duck, 246

Harrier, Montagu’s, 201

Hawfinch, 130

Hawk-owl, American, 199

---- European, 199

Hawk, sparrow, 206

Heather-bleater, 299

Hedge-sparrow, 84

_Helodromus ochropus_, 310

Hen-harrier, 199

_Heniconetta Stelleri_, 246

Heron, 223

---- buff-backed, 226

---- great white, 226

---- night, 223

---- purple, 226

---- Squacco, 226

Herring-gull, 324

_Hierofalco candicans_, 217

---- _gyrfalco_, 217

---- _islandicus_, 217

_Hirundo rustica_, 118

Hobby, 210

Honey buzzard, 217

Hooded crow, 167

---- merganser, 246

Hoodie, 167

Hoopoe, 190

House-martin, 121

House-sparrow, 132

_Hydrochelidon nigra_, 323

_Hypolaïs icterina_, 79

Ibis, glossy, 226

Iceland falcon, 217

---- gull, 329

Icterine warbler, 79

Ivory gull, 329

_Iÿnx torquilla_, 186

Jack-curlew, 313

Jackdaw, 163

Jack-snipe, 300

Jay, 158

Kentish plover, 287

Kestrel, 212

---- lesser, 217

Killdeer plover, 288

King eider, 246

Kingfisher, 188

---- belted, 189

Kite, 207

---- black, 216

Kittiwake, 323

Knot, 304

Lag-goose, grey, 227

_Lagopus mutus_, 270

---- _scoticus_, 272

Landrail, 278

_Lanius collurio_, 114

---- _excubitor_, 116

---- _major_, 116

---- _minor_, 116

---- _pomeranus_, 116

Lapland bunting, 154

Lapwing, 290

Lark, crested, 178

---- sky, 174

---- white-winged, 178

---- wood, 176

_Larus argentatus_, 324

---- _canus_, 326

---- _fuscus_, 325

---- _glaucus_, 329

---- _ichthyaëtus_, 330

---- _leucopterus_, 329

---- _marinus_, 327

---- _minutus_, 330

---- _ridibundus_, 328

Laughing gull, 329

Leach’s petrel, 335

Lesser black-backed gull, 325

---- golden plover, 286

---- grey shrike, 116

---- kestrel, 217

---- redpoll, 139

---- ringed plover, 288

---- spotted woodpecker, 183

Lesser tern, 320

---- whitethroat, 66

_Ligurinus chloris_, 128

_Limnocryptes galliluna_, 300

_Limosa melanura_, 316

Linnet, 138

---- mountain, 141

_Linota cannabina_, 138

---- _flavirostris_, 141

---- _hornemanni_, 140

---- _linaria_, 140

---- _rufescens_, 139

Little auk, 351

---- bittern, 226

---- bunting, 154

---- bustard, 281

---- crake, 278

---- egret, 226

---- grebe, 344

---- gull, 330

---- owl, 199

---- stint, 302

---- tern, 320

_Locustella luscinioïdes_, 84

---- _nævia_, 82

_Lomvia bruennichi_, 351

---- _troile_, 347

Long-eared owl, 196

Long-tailed duck, 250

---- titmouse, 90

Loon, 340

_Loxia bifasciata_, 145

---- _curvirostra_, 144

---- _leucoptera_, 145

---- _pittyopsittacus_, 145

_Machetes pugnax_, 306

Macqueen’s bustard, 281

Magpie, 160

Mallard, 239

Manx shearwater, 336

_Mareca americana_, 238

---- _penelope_, 237

_Margulus alle_, 351

Marsh-harrier, 216

Marsh-hen, 280

Marsh-titmouse, 96

Marsh warbler, 82

Martin, 121

---- house, 121

---- sand, 122

May bird, 313

Meadow-pipit, 108

Mealy redpoll, 140

_Melanocorypha sibirica_, 178

_Melizophilus undatus_, 70

Merganser, hooded, 246

---- red-breasted, 256

_Mergus albellus_, 258

---- _cucullatus_, 246

---- _merganser_, 255

---- _serrator_, 256

Merlin, 211

_Merops apiaster_, 190

_Milvus ictinus_, 207

---- _nigrans_, 216

Missel-thrush, 39

Montagu’s harrier, 201

_Monticola saxatilis_, 52

Moor buzzard, 216

Moorhen, 279

Moor-lamb, 299

_Motacilla alba_, 108

---- _flava_, 108

---- _lugubris_, 104

---- _melanope_, 105

---- _rayii_, 107

Mother Carey’s chicken, 334

Mountain-blackbird, 50

Mountain-finch, 137

Mountain-linnet, 141

_Muscicapa atricapilla_, 118

---- _grisola_, 116

---- _parva_, 118

Mute swan, 233

Needle-tailed swift, 179

_Neophron percnopterus_, 216

Night-churn, 181

Night heron, 226

Nightingale, 62

Nightjar, 179

---- Egyptian, 181

Noddy, 323

Norfolk plover, 282

North American killdeer-plover, 288

_Nucifraga caryocatactes_, 174

_Numenius arquata_, 314

---- _phæopus_, 313

Nun, 258

Nutcracker, 174

Nuthatch, 99

_Nyctala tengmalmi_, 199

_Nyctea scandiaca_, 199

_Nycticorax griseus_, 226

_Nyroca ferruginea_, 246

_Oceanites oceanicus_, 336

_Œdemia fusca_, 254

---- _nigra_, 253

---- _perspicillata_, 246

_Œdicnemus scolopax_, 282

_Œstrelata hæsitata_, 339

Oriole, golden, 114

_Oriolus galbulus_, 114

Orphean warbler, 70

Ortolan bunting, 154

Osprey, 215

_Otis macqueeni_, 281

---- _tarda_, 281

---- _tetrax_, 281

_Otocorys alpestris_, 178

Ouzel, water, 86

Owl, American hawk, 199

---- barn, 193

---- brown, 198

---- churn, 181

---- eagle, 199

---- European hawk, 199

---- little, 199

---- long-eared, 196

---- scops, 199

---- short-eared, 197

---- snowy, 199

---- tawny, 198

---- Tengmalm’s, 199

---- wood, 198

Oxeye, 92

Oyster-catcher, 293

_Pagophila eburnea_, 329

Pallas’s great grey shrike, 116

---- sand-grouse, 264

_Pandion haliaëtus_, 213

_Panurus biamicus_, 89

Parrot crossbill, 145

Partridge, 267

---- French, 265

---- red-legged, 265

_Parus ater_, 94

---- _britannicus_, 94

---- _cæruleus_, 97

---- _cristatus_, 98

---- _major_, 92

---- _palustris_, 96

Passenger pigeon, 264

_Passer domesticus_, 132

---- _montanus_, 133

_Pastor roseus_, 156

Pectoral sandpiper, 317

_Perdix cinerea_, 267

Peregrine falcon, 208

_Pernis apivorus_, 217

Petrel, Bulwer’s, 339

---- capped, 339

---- fork-tailed, 335

---- Leach’s, 335

---- stormy, 333

---- Wilson’s, 336

Pewit, 290

_Phalacrocorax carbo_, 218

---- _graculus_, 220

Phalarope, grey, 295

---- red-necked, 294

_Phalaropus fulicarius_, 295

---- _hyperboreus_, 294

_Phasianus colchicus_, 264

Pheasant, 264

---- ring-necked, 265

---- sea, 238

_Phylloscopus rufus_, 74

---- _sibilatrix_, 78

---- _superciliosus_, 79

---- _trochilus_, 76

_Pica rustica_, 160

Pied flycatcher, 118

---- wagtail, 104

Pigeon, passenger, 264

Pigmy curlew, 303

Pine grossbeak, 144

_Pinicola enucleator_, 144

Pink-footed goose, 229

Pintail, 238

Pipit, meadow, 108

---- Richard’s, 113

---- rock, 112

---- tawny, 113

---- tree, 110

---- water, 113

_Platalea leucorodia_, 226

_Plectrophanes nivalis_, 152

_Plegadis falcinellus_, 226

Plover, big, 282

---- golden, 284

---- green, 290

---- grey, 286

---- Kentish, 287

---- killdeer, 289

---- lesser golden, 286

---- lesser ringed, 288

---- Norfolk, 282

---- ringed, 287

Pochard, 248

---- red-crested, 246

_Podiceps auritus_, 345

---- _cristatus_, 342

---- _griseigena_, 345

---- _nigrocollis_, 345

Polish swan, 233

_Pomatorhine skua_, 333

_Porzana bailloni_, 278

---- _maruetta_, 277

---- _parva_, 278

_Pratincola rubetra_, 54

_Pratincola rubicola_, 56

Prettichaps, 69

_Procellaria leucorrhoa_, 335

---- _pelagica_, 333

Ptarmigan, 270

Puffin, 351

_Puffinus anglorum_, 336

---- _griseus_, 337

---- _major_, 337

---- _obscurus_, 337

Purple heron, 226

---- sandpiper, 304

_Pyrrhocorax graculus_, 157

_Pyrrhula europæa_, 142

Quail, 269

_Querquedula carolinensis_, 244

---- _circia_, 243

---- _crecca_, 244

---- _discors_, 244

Quest, 258

_Rallus aquaticus_, 277

Raven, 172

Razorbill, 345

_Recurvirostra avocetta_, 316

Red-backed shrike, 114

Redbreast, 59

Red-breasted flycatcher, 118

---- goose, 227

---- merganser, 256

---- snipe, 317

Red-craking night-wren, 84

Red-crested pochard, 246

Red-footed falcon, 217

Red grouse, 272

Red-legged partridge, 265

Red-necked grebe, 345

---- nightjar, 181

---- phalarope, 294

Red night-reeler, 84

Redpoll, Greenland, 140

---- lesser, 139

---- mealy, 140

Redshank, 310

Red-spotted bluethroat, 59

Redstart, 57

---- black, 59

Red-throated diver, 342

Redwing, 45

Reed-bunting, 151

Reed-sparrow, 152

Reed-warbler, 79

---- great, 82

Reelbird, 84

Reeve, 306

_Regulus cristatus_, 72

---- _ignicapillus_, 74

Richard’s pipit, 113

Richardson’s skua, 333

Ringdove, 258

Ringed plover, 287

Ring-necked pheasant, 265

Ring-ouzel, 50

_Rissa tridactyla_, 323

River-chat, 80

Robin, 59

Rock, blue, 262

Rock-dove, 261

Rock-pipit, 112

Rock-thrush, 52

Roller, 190

Rook, 168

Roseate tern, 320

Rose-coloured pastor, 156

Rosy bullfinch, 144

Rough-legged buzzard, 216

Royston crow, 167

Ruddy sheldrake, 236

Ruff, 306

Rufous warbler, 79

Rustic bunting, 154

_Ruticilla phœnicurus_, 57

---- _titys_, 59

Sabine’s gull, 330

Sanderling, 308

Sand-martin, 122

Sandpiper, Bartram’s, 317

---- Bonaparte’s, 317

---- broad-billed, 317

---- buff-breasted, 317

---- common, 309

---- curlew, 303

---- green, 310

---- pectoral, 317

---- purple, 304

---- wood, 316

Sandwich tern, 322

Savi’s warbler, 84

Saw-sharpener, 93

_Saxicola deserti_, 54

---- _œnanthe_, 52

---- _strapazina_, 54

Scaup, 247

Sclavonian grebe, 345

_Scolopax rusticula_, 296

Scopoli’s sooty tern, 323

_Scops giu_, 199

Scops owl, 199

Scoter, black, 253

Scoter, common, 253

---- surf, 246

---- velvet, 254

Screecher, 179

Sea-eagle, 205

Sea-magpie, 293

Sea-pheasant, 238

Sedge-bird, 80

Sedge-warbler, 80

Serin, 128

_Serinus hortulanus_, 128

Shag, 220

Shearwater, dusky, 337

---- greater, 337

---- Manx, 336

---- sooty, 337

Sheld-duck, 235

Sheldrake, common, 235

---- ruddy, 236

Shore-lark, 178

Short-eared owl, 197

Short-toed lark, 178

Shoveler, 245

Shrike, great grey, 116

---- lesser grey, 116

---- red-backed, 114

Siskin, 127

_Sitta cæsia_, 99

Skua, Buffon’s, 333

---- common or great, 330

---- Richardson’s, 333

Skylark, 174

Smew, 258

Snipe, common, 299

---- double, 298

---- great, 298

---- jack, 300

---- solitary, 298

---- summer, 309

Snow-bunting, 153

Snowflake, 152

Snow goose, 227

Snowy owl, 199

Solan goose, 221

Solitary snipe, 298

_Somateria mollissima_, 251

---- _spectabilis_, 246

Song-thrush, 41

Sooty shearwater, 337

---- tern, 323

Sparrow-hawk, 206

Sparrow, hedge, 84

---- house, 132

---- tree, 133

_Spatula clypeata_, 245

Spinner, 181

Spoonbill, 226

Spotted crake, 277

---- eagle, 216

---- flycatcher, 116

---- redshank, 316

---- woodpecker, 181

Squacco heron, 226

_Squatarola helvetica_, 286

Starling, 154

Steller’s duck, 246

_Stercorarius catarrhactes_, 330

---- _crepidatus_, 333

---- _parasiticus_, 333

---- _pomatorhinus_, 333

_Sterna cantiaca_, 322

---- _dougalli_, 320

---- _fluviatilis_, 319

---- _macrura_, 317

---- _minuta_, 320

Stilt, black-winged, 316

Stint, American, 317

---- little, 302

---- Temminck’s, 303

Stock-dove, 261

Stonechat, 56

Stone-cracker, 54

Stone-curlew, 282

Stork, black, 226

---- white, 226

Stormcock, 39

Storm petrel, 334

Stormy petrel, 333

_Strepsilus interpres_, 292

_Strix flammea_, 193

_Sturnus vulgaris_, 154

_Sula bassana_, 221

Summer snipe, 309

---- teal, 243

Surf-scoter, 246

_Surnia funeria_, 199

---- _ulula_, 199

Swallow, 118

Swallow-tailed kite, 217

Swan, Bewick’s, 234

---- mute, 233

---- Polish, 233

---- whooper, 234

---- wild, 234

Swift, 178

---- black, 179

---- needle-tailed, 179

---- white-bellied, 179

_Sylvia atricapilla_, 67

---- _cinerea_, 64

---- _curruca_, 66

---- _hortensis_, 69

---- _nisoria_, 70

---- _orphea_, 70

_Syrnium aluco_, 198

_Syrrhaptes paradoxus_, 264

_Tachybaptes fluviatilis_, 344

_Tadorna casarca_, 236

---- _cornuta_, 235

Tangle-picker, 293

Tawny owl, 198

---- pipit, 113

Teal, 244

---- blue-winged, 244

---- cricket, 243

---- green-winged, 244

---- summer, 243

Temminck’s stint, 303

Tengmalm’s owl, 199

Tern, arctic, 317

---- black, 323

---- Caspian, 323

---- common, 319

---- gull-billed, 323

---- little, 320

---- roseate, 320

---- Sandwich, 322

---- sooty, 323

---- whiskered, 323

---- white-winged black, 323

_Tetrao tetrix_, 273

---- _urogallus_, 275

Thick-knee, 282

Throstle, 41

Thrush, black-throated, 51

---- missel, 39

---- rock, 52

---- song, 41

---- White’s, 52

_Tinnunculus alaudarius_, 212

---- _cenchris_, 217

---- _vespertinus_, 247

Titmouse, bearded, 89

---- blue, 97

---- coal, 94

---- crested, 98

---- great, 92

---- long-tailed, 90

---- marsh, 96

_Totanus calidris_, 310

---- _canescens_, 312

---- _glareola_, 316

Tree-creeper, 124

Tree-pipit, 110

Tree-sparrow, 133

_Tringa alpina_, 300

---- _canutus_, 304

---- _minuta_, 302

---- _striata_, 304

---- _subarquata_, 303

---- _Temmincki_, 303

_Tringoïdes hypoleucus_, 309

_Troglodytes parvulus_, 101

Tufted duck, 246

_Turdus atrigularis_, 52

---- _iliacus_, 45

---- _merula_, 47

---- _musicus_, 41

---- _pilaris_, 46

---- _torquatus_, 50

---- _varius_, 52

---- _viscivorus_, 39

Turnstone, 292

Turtle-dove, 262

_Turtur communis_, 262

Twite, 141

Two-barred crossbill, 145

_Upupa epops_, 190

_Uria grylle_, 350

_Vanellus vulgaris_, 290

Velvet scoter, 246, 254

Vulture, Egyptian, 216

---- griffon, 216

Wagtail, blue-headed yellow, 108

---- grey, 105

---- pied, 104

---- white, 108

---- yellow, 107

Warbler, aquatic, 82

---- barred, 70

---- Dartford, 70

---- garden, 69

---- grasshopper, 82

---- icterine, 79

---- marsh, 82

---- orphean, 70

---- reed, 79

---- Savi’s, 84

---- sedge, 79

---- willow, 76

---- yellow-browed, 79

Water-hen, 280

Water-ouzel, 86

Water-pipit, 113

Water-rail, 277

Waxwing, 114

Whaup, 315

Wheatear, 52

---- black-throated, 54

---- desert, 54

Wheelbird, 181

Whimbrel, 313

Whinchat, 54

Whiskered tern, 323

White-bellied swift, 179

White-eyed duck, 246

White-fronted goose, 230

White-spotted bluethroat, 59

White’s thrush, 52

White stork, 226

Whitetail, 54

White-tailed eagle, 205

Whitethroat, 64

---- greater, 65

---- lesser, 66

White wagtail, 108

White-winged black tern, 323

---- crossbill, 145

---- lark, 178

Whooper swan, 234

Wigeon, 237

---- American, 238

Wild duck, 239

---- swan, 234

Willow-warbler, 76

Willow-wren, 76

Wilson’s petrel, 336

Windhover, 212

Woodchat, 116

Woodcock, 296

Woodlark, 176

Wood-owl, 198

Woodpecker, barred, 183

---- green, 184

---- lesser spotted, 183

---- spotted, 181

Wood-pigeon, 258

Wood-sandpiper, 316

Wood-wren, 78

Wren, 101

---- furze, 70

---- golden-crested, 72

---- red-craking night, 84

---- willow, 76

---- wood, 78

Wryneck, 186

_Xema sabinii_, 330

Yaffle, 185

Yellow-billed cuckoo, 193

Yellow-browed warbler, 79

Yellow bunting, 148

Yellowhammer, 148

Yellow wagtail, 107

---- yoldring, 149

_Printed at_ THE BALLANTYNE PRESS
SPOTTISWOODE, BALLANTYNE & CO. LTD.
_Colchester, London & Eton, England_

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Wild Life in a Southern County._

[2] Seebohm’s _British Birds_.

Transcriber’s Notes:

1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.

2. Where hyphenation is in doubt, it has been retained as in the original.

3. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original.

4. New partial original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.

5. Italics are shown as _xxx_.