Tringa Cinclus, LINNÆUS; L'Alouette de Mer, BUFFON; Der
Meerlerche, BECHSTEIN.
This is a marsh bird, about the size of the redwing, and is very common
on the banks of rivers, lakes, and large ponds. When it rises in the air
it cries continually "_tzi, tzi, tzi, tzi_." Its beak is black, and its
feet dark brownish green; the feathers on the upper part of the body are
grey, glossy, and silky, with blackish bands notched on the sides, and
bordered on the outer edge with rust red; a whitish streak passes above
the eyes, whilst a narrow dark brown line crosses them; the under part
of the body is pure white, but the breast is striped with dark brown;
the quill-feathers are black, the anterior having a broad white streak
on the inner web, the others having the same on the outer web; the
greater coverts are tipped with white, which form two spots on the
wings; the three middle feathers of the tail are grey brown with black
bands; the others are white, with dark brown bands.
The female is rather larger, and her plumage is paler.
OBSERVATIONS.--It is easy to obtain this bird, which has many
attractions for the amateur. It runs quickly, continually shaking the
back part of its body, and repeating, particularly towards evening,
its loud and tender call, "_hidutzt_."
When wild it eats insects and worms, found near the water. In the
house it will soon eat the universal paste, if a few meal-worms and
ants' eggs are at first thrown amongst it. If there are other birds
in the same room, the water vessel should be removed from the food,
or another vessel devoted to it, for not being able to swallow what
is not soft, it carries all its food to the water to soak, and thus
renders it dirty. It catches insects very dexterously; it advances
slowly like a cat, its head bent down, and then darts forward swiftly
and slyly. I admire their habits so much that I have one generally in
my house. I have observed that all the species of snipes have the
habit of turning over any stones they meet with, to look for insects
under. It is very easy to take the purr as soon as the stakes,
sticks, and other places where they most commonly alight, are known;
it is only to put bird-lime on them and drive the birds gently
towards the part. This and the corn crake are the only two marsh
birds that should properly be reckoned among house-birds.