of fen-lands and higher cultivation it is, perhaps, not so abundant as
formerly, yet there are few marshes or low-lying lands of any extent in
our islands, which do not afford a home to a few pairs of this species.
It feeds chiefly by night on worms, aquatic insects, water weeds, and
grain, and prefers ditches overgrown with weeds or shallow ponds to open
stretches of deep water. Early in March it chooses a nesting site,
usually on the ground and at no great distance from water, but
exceptionally it has been known to nest in trees, faggots, stacks, and
other elevated places. No nest is formed, but a cup-shaped hollow is
scraped out, which is warmly lined with down after incubation commences.
The eggs, usually ten to twelve in number, are pale greenish yellow, and
are always carefully covered up by the Duck on leaving the nest. They
hatch after twenty-seven days' incubation, and the young are then taken
to the nearest water, on or near which they remain for about two months
till they can fly. If, however, they are much disturbed they will be led
away by their mother to a neighbouring piece of water, often at some
considerable distance.
In a wild state the Mallard, as the male of this species is called, is
strictly monogamous, and during the whole of incubation he will remain
in the vicinity of the nest, warning his mate of the approach of danger,
and accompanying her when she comes off to feed. Once the young are
hatched he retires to some secluded and sheltered piece of water, where
he assumes a dull plumage, somewhat resembling that of the female.
During this period he becomes very skulking, rarely showing himself on
the open water. When his dull or "eclipse" plumage has been assumed, he
casts all his flight feathers at once, and for a short time becomes
incapable of flight. These grow again in about a fortnight, and then in
September he begins to assume his brilliant colours once more, and comes
from his secluded retreat to join his comrades. In the winter they
gather in large flocks, which resort to open sheets of water or the sea,
flighting every evening to the marshes and shore to feed, and retiring
again at daybreak to rest on the water.
[Illustration: MALLARD OR WILD DUCK
_Anas boschas_]
It is these daily movements of Duck that are known to sportsmen as
"flights," and they afford excellent shooting to the gunner concealed on
their route. Vast numbers of this and other species of Duck used
formerly to be taken in decoys, but partly owing to decrease in the
numbers of the fowl, or still more to the increase of shooters, who
frighten them away, few if any decoys are now worked at a profit in this
country. A decoy is a pond in a suitable locality near the sea
surrounded by trees and having two or four curved arms known as "pipes"
running up at the different corners. These pipes are covered with
netting, and end in a small bag net. The Duck are enticed up by tame
birds and by means of a red dog that they follow out of curiosity. When
some way up the pipe they see behind them the decoyman, who has hitherto
been concealed by an ingenious arrangement of reed-screens, and rather
than turn back and face him, they rise and fly up the pipe into the net.
The whole operation must be carried out in silence so as not to scare
the other birds on the pond, who remain in complete ignorance of their
comrades' fate. Absolute quiet and plenty of food are the essentials for
the successful working of a decoy. They are still used in Holland, where
they form a considerable source of profit to their owners; their number
is limited, and a licence has to be paid for each decoy.
After the brood can fly the Duck loses her primaries and becomes
incapable of flight for a short time, but as soon as her quills are
grown the whole family move off to join the flocks, which are now
rapidly forming. Large numbers visit us yearly from abroad, and a spell
of severe weather in midwinter still further increases their numbers.
The male has a glossy green head and neck, the latter being encircled by
a narrow white ring; rump and tail coverts glossy greenish black, the
four central coverts upturned; chest and breast deep chestnut; rest of
under parts pale grey, vermiculated with black; bill greenish yellow;
legs orange. The Duck is dark brown, the feathers having paler edgings.
The young resemble the female, but the males have assumed their full
dress by October. The male in eclipse has a plumage which approximates
to that of the female. Length 23 in.; wing 11 in.
THE GADWALL
Anas strepera, Linnæus
The Gadwall is a scarce visitor to our shores, occurring irregularly
along the east coasts of Scotland and England, but it is very rarely
seen in the west or in Ireland. In a few places in Norfolk, where it was
originally introduced, it breeds, and has of late years considerably
increased both there and in the surrounding counties. In habits it
resembles the Mallard. The eggs are usually ten in number and of a
delicate creamy pink. It may be easily recognised on the wing by its
white speculum.
On the Continent it nests in Central and Eastern Europe, its breeding
range extending to the far north of Russia. It winters in the
Mediterranean basin.
The adult male is greyish brown, with darker mottlings on the head and
neck; back dark brown, with greyish markings; median wing coverts
chestnut; greater coverts almost black. Under parts white, grey on the
flanks and vent. Under tail coverts black. The female is marked with
dark brown and buff much like a Wild Duck, but is recognisable by the
_white_ speculum. The young somewhat resemble the female. The white
speculum forms a distinctive mark of this species at all ages. Length 20
in.; wing 10·5 in.
THE SHOVELLER
Spatula clypeata (Linnæus)
This bird is by no means rare with us in winter, when large numbers come
over from abroad. It is essentially an inland species, preferring small
and sheltered pieces of water rather than wide open stretches. Its most
characteristic feature is the large flattened bill with which it feeds
on the surface-swimming animalculæ and other insects, the broad lamellæ
of the mandibles forming an efficient strainer. When feeding three or
four will often follow each other in a circle, each feeding in the
other's wake. Of late years it has become more numerous as a breeding
bird, and it now nests commonly in the Broads and other districts of
Norfolk and the eastern counties. In Kent and the Midlands, Yorkshire
and the North, it nests sparingly, as well as in some of the southern
and eastern counties of Scotland. In Ireland it is a local but by no
means scarce species. Except in the breeding season it is a very silent
bird; when courting it moves its head up and down, uttering a low "took,
took," which is answered by the female. The nest is generally placed at
some distance from the water in the middle of a dry grass-field, where
there is hardly any cover beyond a small patch of grass more luxuriant
than the rest.
The eggs, which number from eight to ten, are pale greenish buff in
colour. The female sits very closely, and the male remains in attendance
at no great distance and accompanies her when she comes off to feed. The
incubation period of this species is rather shorter than with most
Ducks, and lasts between twenty-one and twenty-three days. The young are
solely looked after by the Duck, and when first hatched their bills show
no trace of the broadening and flattening, characteristic of the adult.
During the summer the Drake assumes an "eclipse" plumage, which somewhat
resembles that of the Duck. In October he begins, _unlike_ most other
species, to assume an "intermediate" plumage, in which the head is very
dark but not metallic, and the white of the breast is obscured by dark
transverse bars. The full plumage is not usually complete till the end
of February or early in March.
In this country our breeding birds are practically resident, only
shifting from their nesting-quarters when frozen out. The majority of
birds met with, however, in winter are immigrants from the Continent,
who leave us again in March.
The adult Drake in full plumage is a beautiful bird. The head and upper
neck are metallic green; lower neck, breast, and scapulars white; back
brown; shoulders pale blue; greater wing coverts white. The under parts
are deep chestnut; speculum green; bill black; legs orange.
The Duck is dark brown, with light rufous buff edgings to the feathers.
Shoulders bluish. The young at first resemble the Duck, and in November
begin to assume the "intermediate" plumage described above, except that
the breast feathers are spotted and not barred. It does not always
assume its full plumage in the first year.
[Illustration: SHOVELLER
_Spatula clypeata_]
THE PINTAIL
Dafila acuta (Linnæus)
This species visits us in large numbers during the winter, arriving in
September and not leaving our shores till April. During this period it
is essentially a Sea-Duck, haunting shallow shores and estuaries, where
it feeds on aquatic vegetation, crustacea, and other animal life brought
in by each tide. It is commoner on the east coast than elsewhere owing
to the large tracts of shore suited to its habits, but it may be found
in smaller numbers on the west and in Ireland, wherever suitable
localities exist.
It is only of late years that it has been known to nest in this country,
a small colony having established themselves on one of the Scotch lochs.
Elsewhere it breeds abundantly throughout Northern Europe, migrating
southwards in winter. The nest is placed in a dry situation, at some
little distance from the water. The eggs are rather elongated in shape
and pale buffish green in colour.
The adult male has a brown head, greenish black on the nape. A white
stripe runs down the neck on either side, merging into the white of the
under parts. Back and flanks dark brown, mottled with grey. Wing coverts
buff; speculum bronze green; tail black, the two central feathers much
elongated; under tail coverts black; bill and legs slate grey. The
female is of varying shades of buff and brown. The elongated neck and
general shape of this species is sufficient to distinguish it from
others of its family. The young resemble the female, and moult directly
into their full plumage in their first autumn. The eclipse plumage of
the Drake, which is dark brown above and smoky grey below, is lost about
October. Length 26 in.; wing 11 in.
THE TEAL
Nettion crecca (Linnæus)
This is the smallest of our native species of Duck, and is fairly common
throughout our islands at all times of the year, but its numbers are
largely augmented in winter by the arrival of vast flocks from abroad.
It may be found in winter near the mouths of rivers and shallow
estuaries as well as inland; its food consists of grain, insects, worms,
slugs, and molluscs.
It breeds throughout our islands, but more abundantly in the north. The
nest is generally placed at some distance from water on a dry moorland
or rough grass-field, and this species makes a rough nest of leaves and
grass, lined with down. The eggs, eight to ten in number, are creamy
white.
The male has the crown, nape, cheeks, and throat chestnut; an elongated
patch of purplish green behind the eye, the rest of the upper parts
vermiculated with black and white except the rump and tail coverts,
which are black. Under parts white, the lower part of the neck and
breast being spotted and sometimes of a yellowish tinge; flanks
vermiculated with black. Speculum green and purplish black. Bill black,
legs brownish grey. The female is mottled with brown and buff. The young
resemble the female. The male in his eclipse dress, which is worn till
late in October or November, resembles the female very closely, more so
in fact than is the case with any other species. Length 14·5; wing 7·25
in.
THE AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL
Nettion carolinense (J. F. Gmelin)
This species has only occurred three or four times in these islands. The
male differs from the Common Teal in having some greyish vermiculated
feathers on either side of the breast, and the buffish white lines on
the face are very slightly defined. The female cannot be distinguished
from our native species. Length 16 in.; wing 7·25 in.
THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL
Querquedula discors (Linnæus)
This American species has been taken at least once in the United
Kingdom. The male has the throat, forehead, and crown dark lead colour,
and _a long crescentic patch of white_ in front of the eye. Cheeks and
neck dull lavender grey. Length 16 in.; wing 7·25 in.
THE GARGANEY
Querquedula circia (Linnæus)
This is one of our scarcest species, coming to us as a summer immigrant
from April to September, and remaining in a few suitable spots to breed.
It is commonest in Norfolk, and may also be found in Hants, Kent,
Suffolk, and Yorkshire. Elsewhere its occurrences are rare and only
consist of stragglers on migration.
It breeds regularly on the Continent from Sweden southwards, becoming
commoner in the east.
The nest is usually placed in a dry and often open situation, where
there is but little cover. The eggs resemble those of the Teal, but are
rather greener in tint.
The crown and nape of the male are dark brown, with a conspicuous white
stripe passing backwards over the eye. Cheeks and neck brown ticked with
white. Back dark brown; wing coverts bluish grey. Chin black; breast
pale brown, with dark crescentic bars; remainder of under parts white.
Vermiculated on the flanks. Speculum green; bill black; legs greenish.
Female somewhat similar to Duck of the common Teal, but may be
distinguished by the presence of a light stripe over the eye. The
feathers of the back are dark with light margins, not barred as in the
Teal, while the feathers of the breast are also entirely dark with white
margins. Length 16 in.; wing 7·8 in.
THE WIGEON
Mareca penelope (Linnæus)
The Wigeon is one of our commonest winter visitors, arriving in large
numbers from early in September onwards, and frequenting estuaries,
bays, and tidal waters, but rarely wandering far inland. Although
feeding also on marine insects and crustacea, it is chiefly a vegetable
eater, living almost entirely upon _Zostera marina_.
In Scotland a good many pairs remain to breed, and during the summer it
frequents high moorlands and inland waters. The nest is placed in a tuft
of rushes or among heather, and the eggs, usually ten in number, are of
a delicate creamy white. The note is a melodious whistle, which may be
expressed as "whee you."
The male has the head and neck chestnut, with a broad buff stripe
extending backwards over the crown; back grey uniformly vermiculated;
throat and upper neck chestnut; breast white, vermiculated on the
flanks; shoulders white; speculum green. In the eclipse plumage the head
is dark chestnut, grizzled with brown; back brown, with chestnut edgings
to the feathers; flanks chestnut; under parts white. The female is dark
brownish grey above, lighter on the wing coverts, and white underneath.
Length 18·5 in.; wing 10·5 in.
THE AMERICAN WIGEON
Mareca americana (J. F. Gmelin)
One or two examples of this species have occurred in this country at
long intervals. It may be distinguished from our Wigeon by the forehead
and crown being dull white, the cheeks and neck whitish, speckled with
brown, and a green stripe passing backwards from the eye. The female has
the head and neck yellowish white, speckled with black. Length 19 in.;
wing 10·25 in.
THE RED-CRESTED POCHARD
Netta rufina (Pallas)
The Red-crested Pochard, whose nesting home is in South-Eastern Europe,
though it also nests sparingly in the Rhone delta and Spain, is only a
rare straggler to these islands, and most of the examples have been
obtained in Norfolk, where as recently as last year, 1906, a flock of
eight appeared, and needless to say were soon all shot.
It is a much larger bird than the Common Pochard, and may be
distinguished by its rufous crest, red bill, and legs, though differing
also in many other particulars. There are sixteen tail feathers instead
of fourteen as in the genus Fuligula. Length 22 in.; wing 10·5 in.
[Illustration: WIGEON
_Mareca penelope_]
THE COMMON POCHARD
Fuligula ferina (Linnæus)
With this and the preceding species we come to the second division of
the Ducks, which are known as Diving Ducks, in contradistinction to the
others which are known as surface-feeders, although quite capable, when
alarmed, of diving. Diving Ducks may be recognised by having the legs
placed further back on the body, thus rendering their progress on land
rather difficult, and by the hind toe being lobed.
The Pochard is chiefly a winter visitor to our shores, occurring not
uncommonly in most seasons, but being in some years much more numerous
than in others. It chiefly frequents the sea-coasts, feeding on
crustacea, molluscs, and a certain amount of marine or aquatic weeds,
which it procures almost entirely by diving, but it is by no means
exclusively confined to such localities, and is frequently met with on
inland waters, provided they are of sufficient size. In spring the
majority leave us for their breeding haunts on the Continent, but as a
breeding species with us it is on the increase, and may be found in a
certain number of favoured localities throughout England and Scotland.
In Ireland, where it is fairly abundant during the winter, it has only
been known to nest on a few occasions.
The note of the male is a low whistle, but both sexes utter an
alarm-note, which may be syllabled as "curre." The nest is always placed
in thick cover close to the water's edge, and the eggs, which number
seven to ten and are fairly large for the size of the bird, are of a
greenish drab colour.
The adult male has the head and neck chestnut; the breast and upper
parts black, the latter being finely freckled with grey. Under parts
greyish white. Bill black, with a broad band of slate grey across it.
Legs bluish grey. In its eclipse plumage the head becomes much browner,
and the chest is brown, faintly barred with lighter. The female has the
head, neck, and chest dull brown; the chin light, the rest of the
plumage being like the male but duller. The young resemble the female.
Length 19 in.; wing 8·25 in.
THE FERRUGINOUS DUCK
Fuligula nyroca (Güldenstädt)
In England this species has been observed on a good many occasions,
though some of the instances may have been those of escaped birds. It
has also been obtained in Scotland and Ireland. It breeds fairly
abundantly throughout Central and Southern Europe, where it is resident.
The male has the head, neck, and upper breast rich chestnut brown, the
rest of the upper parts brown, under parts white. The female is duller.
It may always be recognised by the white irides. Length 16 in.; wing
7·75 in.
THE TUFTED DUCK
Fuligula cristata (Leach)
This species is the commonest of our Diving Ducks, nesting in increasing
numbers on many of our inland waters throughout England, Scotland, and
Ireland.
In winter, as is the case with most Ducks, large numbers arrive from
abroad, and may be found in shallow bays, estuaries, and inland waters
in company with other species.
In food and habits it much resembles the Pochard, and is very good
eating after it has been in inland waters for some time.
The nest is placed on rushes, and the eggs, which sometimes number as
many as thirteen, are greenish buff, and are said to hatch after about
twenty-three days' incubation.
The adult male has the crest, head, and neck purplish black; speculum
white. Under parts, including the flanks, snow white. Bill slate grey;
eye golden yellow; legs bluish. In the eclipse plumage it becomes much
browner, somewhat resembling the female.
The female is sooty brown above and greyish brown below, and her crest
is much shorter than that of the male. At the end of summer she becomes
white round the base of the bill for two or three months, but
individuals vary much in this respect. The young resemble the female,
and have a whitish forehead. Length 17·25 in.; wing 8 in.
THE SCAUP DUCK
Fuligula marila (Linnæus)
Breeding in the far north of Europe this species visits us in
considerable numbers during the winter, feeding on molluscs, crustacea,
and small fish, which are plentiful on our low, flat, alluvial shores.
It goes about in large flocks, and although obtaining much of its food
by diving, it is also fond of feeding on the soft ooze left bare by the
receding tide. The note is a harsh "scaup."
It is only during the last two or three years that it has been proved
beyond doubt to nest in a particular locality in Scotland, where it is
strictly preserved.
The nest is placed among stones or rough grass near some pool or mere,
and the eggs, which are pale greenish grey, are usually about ten in
number.
The male has the whole of the head, neck, breast, and upper parts black,
the mantle being thickly vermiculated with white. Under parts white;
bill greyish blue; eyes pale yellow; legs bluish. The female has those
parts which are black in the male dull brown, and the vermiculations on
the back are very scanty. There is a white band round the base of the
bill. The young resemble the female, and immature Drakes do not acquire
their full plumage for two or three years. Length 19 in; wing 8·5 in.
[Illustration: TUFTED DUCK
_Fuligula cristata_]
THE GOLDEN-EYE DUCK
Clangula glaucion (Linnæus)
Breeding in Northern Europe, this species generally arrives here in
October, and may be found sparingly on inland rivers and lakes, as well
as in estuaries, becoming commoner in the north. In food and general
habits it much resembles the preceding species, but its nest is placed
in holes of trees at some distance from the ground, the old hole of a
Black Woodpecker being frequently made use of in Scandinavia. The Lapps,
in order to obtain the eggs of this and other kindred species, place
nest-boxes in the pine and birch woods, the majority of which are
tenanted by this species. The eggs, about twelve in number, are bright
green. It has never been known to nest with us.
The male has the head and upper neck glossy greenish black, with a
conspicuous white oval patch under each eye; the rest of the upper
parts, except the scapulars, black; scapulars, a large wing patch, and
under parts white. Bill bluish black. Legs yellow, with black webs. The
female has the black parts in the male replaced by greyish brown, and
the white wing patch is much smaller in extent. The white spot below the
eye is absent. The neck and breast are greyish. The young resemble the
female. Length 18·5 in.; wing 8·25 in.
THE BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK
Clangula albeola (Linnæus)
Only two or three examples of this North American species have been
obtained in this country. In general coloration it bears a distant
resemblance to the Golden-eye, but the male may be recognised by the
presence of a large triangular white patch on the head, having its apex
at the back of the eye. The female is a dull-coloured bird of various
shades of brown. Length 15 in.; wing 6·75 in.
THE LONG-TAILED DUCK
Harelda glacialis (Linnæus)
Like many other of our Ducks this is a species which breeds in the north
and only visits us in winter. It is fairly common in the north of
Scotland and adjoining islands, and there is some evidence that it may
occasionally have stayed to breed in the Shetlands. On the east of
England immature examples are sometimes shot, especially in severe
winters, and the same may be said for the north of Ireland. Over the
rest of our islands it is decidedly a rare bird.
Like most Diving Ducks, its food consists of crustaceans and molluscs,
and during the winter it is rarely found inland; in the breeding season,
however, it frequents small meres and ponds, feeding largely on aquatic
vegetation.
The nest is placed near the water on the ground, and warmly lined with
down. The eggs are of a bluish green colour.
In its plumage this species is somewhat peculiar. It assumes in October
a black-and-white plumage, in which the head and neck are white except
for a brownish grey patch on the cheeks and an oval patch of dark brown
on each side of the neck. The upper parts, breast, wing coverts, and
central tail feathers, which latter are much elongated, are black. The
scapulars, secondaries, outer tail feathers, and under parts white. Bill
black, with pinkish band. Legs lead grey. In April, just previous to the
breeding season, the white portions of the upper parts are changed, and
become of various shades of brown or tawny. The female lacks the
elongated tail feathers, is duller, and has the white portions brownish;
otherwise she resembles the Drake and undergoes similar changes of
plumage. Length, inclusive of tail, 25 in.; wing 8·8 in.
THE HARLEQUIN DUCK
Cosmonetta histrionica (Linnæus)
Iceland is the nearest breeding resort of this species, which nests also
in Eastern Siberia, and only three or four examples have occurred on our
coasts.
It is a very peculiarly marked Duck; the general colour above is bluish
black, with a white spot at the base of the bill and behind each ear; a
white line runs backwards over the crown, and another down the sides of
the neck. A white ring, bordered with black, encircles the lower neck,
and there is another similar one across the breast; the under parts are
dark greyish brown. Length 17 in.; wing 8 in.
THE EIDER DUCK
Somateria mollissima (Linnæus)
This exclusively Sea-Duck is not uncommon from Northumberland
northwards, where it is resident, and breeds in all suitable localities;
but over the rest of our coasts it is rare, and only met with
occasionally.
In food and habits it calls for no special comment. The nest is placed
usually on low rocky islets among the herbage or in crevices of the
rocks, but it is sometimes found at considerable distances from the
water and often at some height above the sea. Five is the usual number
in a clutch, the eggs being large, somewhat pointed, and greenish grey
in colour. This bird is famous for the down with which its nest is
lined, and on this account is stringently protected in many places
abroad. The first two nests are generally taken, the Duck being allowed
to hatch her third clutch unmolested.
The Drakes are extremely handsome birds. The head and neck are black,
with the exception of a white line running backwards from the crown to
the nape, which is green. The cheeks, back wing coverts, and long
sickle-shaped secondaries (characteristic of the Eider Ducks) white.
Wings, rump, and tail black; breast warm buff. Rest of under parts
black. Bill and legs greenish. In the "eclipse" plumage the whole of the
head and white portions of the body (except the wing coverts) become
dull brownish black. The female is rufous buff, with darker bars. Length
23 in.; wing 11 in.
THE KING EIDER
Somateria spectabilis (Linnæus)
Essentially an Arctic species, and rarely wandering south even in
winter, this species is a somewhat scarce visitor to our shores, though
a good many examples have been taken, especially in the north. The large
raised orange tubercle at the base of the bill and the dark clear-cut V
mark underneath the chin, form fairly distinctive characters by which
this species may be recognised, though an imperfect V mark is sometimes
found on the Common Eider. The sickle-shaped secondaries are black and
not white, as in the Common Eider. The female is smaller, but otherwise
resembles the Common Eider, though on close examination she may be
distinguished by the shape and extent of the backward prolongation of
the beak sheath. Length 21 in.; wing 10·5 in.
STELLER'S EIDER
Somateria stelleri (Pallas)
This is an Arctic species, nesting sparingly in Europe and more commonly
on the tundras of Eastern Siberia. It is not very rare on the coast of
Norway in winter, where many migrate westwards. Two examples only have
been obtained in Great Britain.
It is the smallest of our Eiders. The male has the head white, with a
bluish black patch across the occiput and on the chin. The rest of the
upper parts are bluish black, except the falcate secondaries, which are
striped with white. Under parts rufous chestnut. The female, except in
size, is very like the Common Eider, but darker. Length 18 in.; wing 8·5
in.
THE COMMON SCOTER
Oedemia nigra (Linnæus)
This species, except during the breeding season, is almost exclusively a
Sea-Duck, spending most of its time some distance out at sea, only
approaching the shallower water near the shore for food, and rarely
entering bays or estuaries, except under stress of weather.
It is very common round all our coasts, but commonest, perhaps, in the
North Sea, where flocks of many thousands may often be seen during the
winter months.
The main breeding grounds are the wide tundras of Northern Europe and
Siberia, but a few pairs nest in the north of Scotland. The nest is
usually placed on an islet in a small lake or mere, and composed of a
few tufts of moss and heather lined with down. The eggs, eight or nine
in number, are yellowish white in colour. As a rule it is a silent
species, but during the breeding season the male utters a flute-like
"tui, tui, tui."
[Illustration: COMMON SCOTER
_Oedemia nigra_]
The male of this species is of a deep black all over, whence it is often
locally known as the "Black Duck." Bill black with a bright patch of
orange yellow down the centre of the upper mandible. The female and
young are sooty brown and lack the orange on the bill. Length 20 in.;
wing 9 in.
THE VELVET SCOTER
Oedemia fusca (Linnæus)
This species closely resembles the last in habits, but is much scarcer
round our coasts and generally keeps farther out to sea.
It is a rather larger bird than the Common Scoter, and of a dense
velvety black, with a small white spot behind each eye and a white bar
across the wing. The bill is orange yellow, with a large black basal
knob and a narrow dark line along the culmen. Legs orange. The female is
brown, rather lighter underneath, and has a dull white patch before, and
a smaller one behind, each eye. Bill dark. Legs reddish. Length 22 in.;
wing 10·75 in.
THE SURF SCOTER
Oedemia perspicillata (Linnæus)
This North American species has on several occasions occurred on our
coasts.
The male may be at once distinguished from the other Scoters by the
presence of a broad patch of white on the forehead and another on the
nape. In the female the nape patch is present though often indistinct.
There is no white bar across the wing. Length 21 in.; wing 9·5 in.
THE GOOSANDER
Mergus merganser, Linnæus
The Goosander is the first of the three species of "Sawbills" that are
found in this country. Unlike other Ducks, the bill is moderately long
and narrow, and both mandibles have a very rough toothed surface
enabling them easily to secure and hold their prey, which consists
entirely of fish. They are all expert divers. On the east coast of
England this species is not uncommon during the winter months,
frequenting estuaries and freshwater lakes, but in the south and west it
is of irregular occurrence. In Scotland it is known to nest in a few
localities, but on the west coast and in Ireland it is decidedly rare.
The nest is placed down a hole among rocks, or in a tree, and in Sweden
and Lapland it makes extensive use of the nest-boxes put up for it and
other species by the Lapps. The eggs, which may be as many as thirteen
in number, are creamy white. The note is a very harsh "kaar," and when
swimming this bird is not unlike a Cormorant in general outline. When
wounded it will always attempt to escape by diving.
The male has the head and neck dark glossy green; back and scapulars
brown, passing to grey on the rump; wing coverts white; lower neck and
under parts creamy white, tinged with pink in the living bird. Bill and
legs red. The female is rufous brown on the head, greyish on the upper
parts and flanks, and buffish white below. She is rather smaller than
the male. The young resemble the female. Length 25 in.; wing 11 in.
THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
Mergus serrator, Linnæus
Nearly allied to the preceding species, the Merganser is fairly common
round our shores in winter, and nests in considerable numbers in
Scotland, both on lakes and tarns, as well as on the coasts in the north
and west. In Ireland it is a very common resident, breeding especially
abundantly on the west coast. In habits and food it resembles the
Goosander, but is less frequently found inland and far more partial to
the sea than that species. The nest is not placed in a hole but in thick
cover at no great distance from water; the eggs, generally about ten in
number, are of a pale greenish drab and are never of that creamy tint
which distinguishes those of the former species. In these Ducks the male
apparently helps the female in attending on the young and in catching
the small fry on which they live.
Although smaller, this species is not unlike the Goosander; the male may
always be recognised by his reddish breast, streaked with black; the
wing patch is white, barred with black, and on the breast at the point
of the wing there is a conspicuous tuft of white feathers, with black
margins; the long falcated inner scapulars are black. The female has a
distinct black bar across the wing patch, but in other respects, except
size, closely resembles the Duck Goosander. Length 24 in.; wing 9·5 in.
THE SMEW
Mergus albellus, Linnæus
This species, the smallest and scarcest of the Sawbills, only comes to
us in the winter, its breeding haunts being near the limit of tree
growth throughout Northern Europe. It may be found on inland rivers and
lakes, as well as in sheltered bays and estuaries on the coast. Immature
examples with a red head, known as "Red-headed Smews," far out-number
the adults, and old males in full plumage are rarely seen.
This is one of the species that occupies the boxes in Sweden and
Lapland, and the discovery of its eggs, fifty years ago, was due to the
energy and perseverance of an Englishman, John Wolley, who, after four
years' search, succeeded in obtaining three eggs together with a sitting
bird. The eggs are cream coloured and not unlike those of the Wigeon,
but they are slightly smaller.
[Illustration: RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
_Mergus serrator_]
The adult male is entirely white, except for the mantle and quills,
which are jet black. The rump, upper tail coverts, and tail are bluish
grey, and the flanks delicately vermiculated with the same colour.
Stretching half-way across the breast is a narrow black bar, and a
shorter but broader one starts a little farther back. There is a black
patch between the bill and the eye on each side, and another high up on
the occiput joining its fellow on the opposite side, this black crescent
being broken by the overlapping of the slightly elongated feathers of
the head.
The "eclipse" plumage somewhat resembles that of the immature male, from
which it may always be distinguished by the mantle remaining black. The
female is smaller; head and neck reddish brown; remainder of upper parts
and breast ashy grey; under parts white. Length 17·5 in.; wing 7·6 in.
THE HOODED MERGANSER
Mergus cucullatus, Linnæus
This is a North American species, which has only very rarely visited our
shores. It may be distinguished by a semicircular crest or hood over the
head, the posterior half of which is white, with a dark edge. The
general colour is dark brown above and white below. Length 19 in.; wing
7·75 in.
THE WOOD PIGEON
Columba palumbus, Linnæus
Whereas in the case of many species one has to record their increasing
scarcity and approaching extermination as far as these islands are
concerned, with the Wood Pigeon the case is very different. Nesting in
the woods throughout the country, where, owing to strict preservation,
trespassers are forbidden and raptorial birds shot, this species has of
late years increased with amazing rapidity and may be found in winter in
flocks of thousands, which often do considerable damage to the crops.
Although as a rule very shy and wary, it becomes in towns, where it is
unmolested, absurdly tame, and it may now be found in the London parks
and squares disputing with the omnipresent Sparrow the crumbs of bread
thrown out by passers-by. It is curious and interesting to note that it
is very conservative in its habits, rarely settling on any of the
buildings like the wild domestic Pigeons, which are descended from the
Rock Dove, but always keeping to the trees and gardens, leaving its tame
relative in undisputed possession of the streets and buildings. On one
occasion at least it deigned to avail itself of civilisation, for a nest
was recently found in one of the parks composed almost entirely of
ladies' hairpins.
The nest is usually placed on a tree, but sometimes in bushes or
hedgerows. It is made of twigs laid loosely on each other, and is such a
flimsy structure that one would never imagine it capable of forming an
efficient nursery for so large a bird. Two eggs only are laid, which, as
with all Pigeons, are pure white. Two or three broods are often reared
in the season, both sexes taking their turn at incubation and rearing
the young.
Pigeons when first hatched are covered with coarse yellowish down and
are very helpless; they are fed for the first ten days on a sort of soft
curd known as Pigeon's milk, which is secreted in the crop, or is, as
has been stated, the secretion of two glands placed on each side near
the crop, but this latter point requires confirmation. They are fed by
regurgitation, the young bird inserting its beak into that of the
parent.
The note of the Wood Pigeon is a soft melodious "cooroo, coo, coo." When
courting he expands his tail, blows out his crop, and holding his head
high in the air utters his coo; he then bows, and raises his expanded
tail. His hen, who usually shows but little enthusiasm over the display,
has probably moved a little farther off, and the display ends with an
awkward hop towards her.
The flight is rapid and sustained, but in the nesting season, and
occasionally at other times, an upward soaring flight is indulged in
over their nesting home. Its food consists chiefly of grain, seeds,
beechmast, and acorns; but at certain seasons, especially when the snow
is on the ground, large quantities of green food are eaten, tender
turnip tops being much sought after.
The adult is a delicate bluish grey all over, having a violet green
metallic patch on the sides of the neck, bounded on each side by a patch
of white. The breast is a rich vinous purple. Tail and wing feathers
nearly black. Bill yellow; legs red. The sexes are alike; and the young
resemble their parents, but are duller in colour and lack the metallic
and white patch on the sides of the neck. Length 17 in.; wing 10 in.
THE STOCK DOVE
Columba oenas, Linnæus
The Stock Dove is rather smaller and considerably less common than the
previous species, but is nevertheless by no means uncommon in England,
and has greatly increased of late years, especially in Scotland. In
Ireland it is still a rare and local species. The name "Stock Dove" is
not due, as many erroneously suppose, to its being the race from which
our domestic Pigeons spring, but to its habit of nesting in the stocks
and boles of old timber. Such places are, however, by no means
exclusively used, for it also nests in caves, ledges of cliffs, and
rabbit-burrows. Otherwise its habits are not materially different from
those of the Wood Pigeon. As a rule it goes about in pairs, and large
flocks are never met with, even when migrating from its more northerly
breeding quarters.
It is a smaller and duller bird than the Wood Pigeon, lacking the white
spot on the neck; while the vinous purple on the breast is not nearly so
bright. There are traces of two indistinct wing bars. Length 13·5 in.;
wing 8·8 in.
[Illustration: STOCK DOVE
_Columba oenas_]
THE ROCK DOVE
Columba livia, J. F. Gmelin
The Rock Dove is the original species from which most of our domestic
varieties have been derived. It is only on the wildest and most
inaccessible parts of our coast that this species can now be found in
its pure state, as in all the more inhabited portions it has become
interbred with feral domestic birds. It is a resident with us, breeding
in caves along the coast, although on the Continent it also frequents
inland and mountainous regions. The nest, built of sea-weed, is placed
on a small ledge near the roof of a cave, those into which the sea comes
up with each tide being chosen by preference.
They breed very early, and at least two broods are reared in a season,
and in small caves which are only tenanted by one pair, two nests may
often be found and are used alternately, the second clutch being usually
laid before the young of the first brood are ready to fly. It is worthy
of note that in this and many other species, where for the young to move
from the nest before they are fledged would mean instant death, they
remain actually in the nest itself till fully fledged, and do not take
their first flight till they are almost as strong on the wing as the old
birds.
This habit is in marked contradistinction to Rooks and many other small
birds that leave the nest and perch on the branches round, long before
they can fly. The Gulls form also another example, as by nature they
would and do run from the nest, if the nest is on the ground, but if
placed on a narrow ledge they hardly move from it until fully fledged.
In habits this bird resembles the other Pigeons; though its method of
courting, which must be well known to most people, is slightly
different. The male has a curious habit, shared also by the Stock Dove,
of driving the hen for a few days before she lays. On these occasions
his whole time is spent in keeping her on the move, and he never lets
her settle or rest for a minute except on the nest.
The sexes are alike, and pale grey all over, except the rump, which is
white. Across the wing are two distinct and clear-cut black bars, while
the metallic patch on either side of the neck is rather more extensive
than in the Stock Dove. Length 14 in.; wing 8·8 in.
THE TURTLE DOVE
Turtur communis, Selby
This small species is only a summer immigrant with us, arriving early in
May and leaving again for its winter home in Southern Europe and Africa
in September. In England it is a common and widely distributed species,
but in Scotland and Ireland it is rare, only occurring on migration,
though it may sometimes have nested in the former country.
[Illustration: TURTLE DOVE
_Turtur communis_]
It frequents woods, coppices, and tall hedgerows, constructing a frail
nest of twigs on which to lay its two white eggs. It feeds on seeds and
grain, gathering in large flocks in the open fields in autumn before
migrating. The note is a prolonged purring "coo."
The male has the head, nape, wing coverts, rump, and flanks bluish ash,
and a patch of black feathers tipped with white on each side of the
neck. Rest of the back dark brown with broad rufous edges to each
feather. Throat and breast pale vinaceous, rest of under parts white.
Tail feathers dark brown, tipped with white. Length 11·25 in.; wing 6·8
in.
A single example of the Rufous Turtle Dove (_Turtur orientalis_, Latham)
was obtained near Scarborough. It inhabits India and the East, and
hardly differs from our common species, but may be distinguished by its
slaty blue rump.
PALLAS' SAND GROUSE
Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas)
The real home of this species is east of the Caspian, spreading through
Asia to Mongolia and Southern Dauria. On several occasions during the
last fifty years Europe has witnessed an extraordinary immigration of
these birds, which spread westwards in countless numbers. The first wave
to reach our islands arrived during the latter half of 1859, and four
years later a larger invasion took place, the birds spreading throughout
the country. The largest immigration, however, took place in 1888, in
which year several pairs nested with us in Yorkshire and other places.
In 1889 a special Act of Parliament was passed for their protection, but
it came too late, for by that date they had all been slaughtered or had
left for more peaceful localities.
The eggs are two in number and of a warm stone buff colour, with
purplish blotches; they are laid in a depression in the ground with no
attempt at a nest. Their food consists almost entirely of seeds and
grain. The general colour is yellowish buff, greyer on the head and
barred on the back with black. Under parts greyish buff, mottled on the
gorget and banded on the belly with black. Feathers of the vent and feet
white. The female and young are duller and more uniformly spotted.
Length 14·75 in.; wing 9·1 in.
THE CAPERCAILLIE
Tetrao urogallus, Linnæus
Although originally an inhabitant of Great Britain, this species became
extinct over a hundred years ago from causes which are by no means
clear. In 1837 it was introduced into Perthshire and a few other
districts in Scotland, where it has increased largely, and is at the
present time gradually spreading southwards through the pine, oak, and
birch forests.
It is essentially a forest-haunting species, rarely, if ever, wandering
far from the woods, where its call of "peller, peller, peller," may be
continually heard during the spring months, and sometimes again in
autumn.
Like most game birds, it is polygamous, and an old cock is very jealous
of his hens, savagely attacking other males that come near him. When
courting he performs various evolutions, drooping his wings and erecting
his tail, and calling out vigorously at the same time. Their food
consists chiefly of various seeds and berries, and in their season the
tender shoots of the Scotch fir.
The nest is merely a "scrape" in the ground, generally at the foot of a
tree, and the eggs, some twelve in number, are reddish brown spotted and
blotched, with darker shades of the same colour. The young feed largely
on insects and worms, and are especially fond of ants. The male takes no
part in the incubation or tending of the young.
The male is very dark grey on the upper parts, breast glossy green, and
the remainder of the under parts black. The feathers of the chin and
throat are elongated. Length 36 in.; wing 16 in.
The female, who is much smaller, is brownish all over, mottled and
barred with buff and white. Length about 26 in.
THE BLACK GROUSE
Tetrao tetrix, Linnæus
On the moors and woods of Scotland this is a common species, and it is
also found locally in a few places in the west of England, but in some
of its other English haunts, notably the New Forest, it has died out.
Like the Capercaillie, they are polygamous, and gather together in
spring, the cocks fighting and showing off in a variety of evolutions to
the hens. Eventually each cock retires with his hens, and breeding
commences in earnest. The nest is merely a scrape in the heather or on
the outskirts of a wood, and the eggs, generally ten in number, are
yellowish, spotted with reddish brown. The young feed chiefly on
insects, but when adult, grain, berries, and the tender shoots of many
plants constitute their diet. In autumn they visit the harvest-fields in
large numbers at daybreak and dusk. The adult male is bluish black all
over, with white under tail coverts and a white wing bar. Length 22 in.;
wing 10·5 in. The female, usually known as the "Greyhen," is of a warm
brown, barred and marked with black.
THE RED GROUSE
Lagopus scoticus (Latham)
This is the only exclusively British species which is found nowhere
else--if we except the local races of many of the smaller birds, which
can only be distinguished on a very close examination. Our Grouse
differs from the "Ryper" of Norway, which is its nearest ally, by its
black primaries, and in the fact that it does not assume a white dress
in winter.
[Illustration: RED GROUSE
_Lagopus scoticus_
Male (left). Female (right)]
It inhabits moorlands from the limit of heather growth to the
coast-line, and is generally and widely distributed throughout Scotland
and the northern half of England, as far south as Glamorganshire in
Wales, but on the east it does not occur south of the Trent. In Ireland
it is fairly well distributed, but not so common as in Scotland.
Unlike the two former species, the Red Grouse is strictly monogamous,
pairing very early in the season, when his call-note of "go back, go
back," may frequently be heard. The nest is a scrape among the heather,
no materials being added. Ten to twelve eggs form the usual clutch; they
are very handsome, being of a pale ground colour, thickly and profusely
marked with dark reddish brown.
The male waits on the hen during incubation, warning her of the approach
of danger with a sharp "kok, kok, kok." Their food consists of various
seeds and berries, together with the leaves and shoots of plants, and
the tips of ling and heather; in autumn they also visit the
harvest-fields.
The young are fed on insects. This species keeps, as a rule, in family
parties, only packing together during severe weather in the less exposed
places, but where they are much driven and shot, they are often found in
large flocks.
They vary considerably in their plumage, about which more information is
needed. The male is dark brown, barred with reddish, and is often nearly
black on the breast and whitish on the vent. The female is similarly
coloured, but lighter. Length 16 in.; wing 8·4 in.
THE PTARMIGAN
Lagopus mutus (Montin)
Closely allied to the Red Grouse, the Ptarmigan is found on the higher
slopes of the Scottish Highlands from Perthshire northwards. Elsewhere
in these islands it is unknown.
In habits and food it hardly differs from the Grouse; the nest is placed
among stones on the ground, and the eggs, except in being rather smaller
and slightly lighter in colour, are undistinguishable from those of that
species.
The Ptarmigan passes through a complicated plumage cycle, having three
distinct plumages; in summer the male is dark brown, vermiculated with
grey on the head, breast, and upper parts. Wings white, tail dark brown,
belly white. The female is pale yellowish brown, barred with dark brown.
In autumn the upper parts become slate grey, finely vermiculated with
dark brown, and in winter both sexes are entirely white, except that the
male has black lores. Length 14·5 in.; wing 7·75 in.
Most of the so-called "Ptarmigan" in our poulterers' shops are the
Willow Grouse or "Ryper" from Scandinavia and Russia. They may be
distinguished by their larger size and the absence, in the males, of the
black lores.
THE PHEASANT
Phasianus colchicus (Linnæus)
This species is so well known that we need occupy but little space in
dealing with it.
It is now generally distributed throughout our islands, and was first
introduced into England, to which it is not an indigenous bird, from a
district of South Russia near the Black Sea, at some period previous to
the Norman Conquest. To Scotland and Ireland it was imported during the
latter half of the sixteenth century. During the last hundred years
another species, the Chinese Ring-necked Pheasant, has been imported,
and has so interbred with the original birds that the pure Colchian
Pheasant is hardly ever shot at the present day.
The Pheasant is a woodland bird, roosting on trees and roaming in the
fields during the day in search of its food, which consists chiefly of
grain and seed, but during the summer months many insects are eaten. It
is polygamous, and the nest is placed in thick cover on the ground; ten
to twelve pale brown eggs form the usual clutch. The hen is said to be a
bad mother and to desert her eggs if disturbed, but this has probably
been largely brought about by the artificial conditions under which they
are now kept.
In spite of their size and proportionately short wings, they are strong
fliers, and when well on the wing progress at a considerable pace; if
possible, however, they generally try to escape by running and squatting
low on the ground until closely approached, when they rise with their
well-known "whirr." The male has a short "crow," accompanied usually by
a rattling of the wings.
No description of this well-known bird is needed. The Chinese form only
differs from the original breed in having a white ring round the neck.
THE PARTRIDGE
Perdrix cinerea, Latham
In England the Partridge is an exceedingly abundant species, but in
Scotland and Ireland, although well distributed, it is much more local.
It is strictly monogamous, pairing very early in the year, but nesting
operations are rarely commenced before the end of April or early in May.
The nest is a scrape in some hedge bottom, or on a grassy bank, and
often contains as many as fifteen to twenty eggs, which are somewhat
pyriform in shape, and of a uniform olive brown in colour. This species
chiefly inhabits the open cultivated districts, where it feeds on
various seeds and grain, but in summer insects are largely consumed, and
the young are at first fed on them exclusively.
During the early autumn and winter the various families keep together,
forming the well-known "coveys," but if the weather be severe these
birds will "pack" in large flocks like Grouse.
[Illustration: PARTRIDGE
_Perdix cinerea_]
A description of this well-known bird is hardly necessary. The male
differs from the female in the brighter yellowish chestnut of the head
and greyer neck, and the wing coverts are longitudinally striped with
buff in the male, but in the female they are barred.
In young birds the general tone of the plumage is paler, and the
feathers have a median buff longitudinal stripe. Length 12·5 in.; wing 6
in.
THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE
Caccabis rufa (Linnæus)
This species has been introduced into this country at various times from
1770 onwards, and is now well established in several districts. Its home
on the Continent is the east and south of France, Spain, and
North-western Italy, where it inhabits dry and mountainous districts. In
this country it can only be called common in the East Anglian counties,
though it is also found on both sides of the Thames valley and in some
parts of the Midlands. The damp climate of the west does not suit it,
and attempts to introduce it into Scotland and Ireland have failed.
In food and habits it is somewhat similar to the Common Partridge, but
its habit of running instead of getting on the wing renders it less
desirable as a sporting bird, and its flesh is decidedly inferior. It
lays its eggs in banks or under hedges, well concealed by thick cover,
without any attempt at a nest beyond a slight scrape. The eggs are
yellowish white, speckled with brown, and are slightly larger than those
of the Common Partridge. The note is a harsh "clink, clink, clinkar,"
and the male assists the female in rearing the young.
They are not quite so gregarious as the preceding species, and old
males, except during the breeding season, frequently lead a solitary
existence.
The sexes are alike in plumage, but the male has a blunt spur. The
throat and cheeks are white, bordered with black. Sides of neck and
breast grey, spotted with black. Crown grey; stripe above the eye white.
Rest of upper parts warm rufous brown. Under parts fawn colour; flanks
grey, boldly barred with black and chestnut. Bill and legs deep coral
red.
The young are brown on the throat and breast. Length 13·5 in.; wing 6·22
in.
THE QUAIL
Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre
This species is only a summer visitor to this country, though examples
have been known to spend the winter with us. Never very abundant, it has
of late years become decidedly scarcer, and can now only be considered
an uncommon and local bird.
Delighting chiefly in dry, broken, uncultivated land, it becomes scarcer
in the north, but has been known to nest as far north as Caithness. The
nest is a "scrape" in the grass, and the seven to twelve eggs are
yellowish white blotched with umber brown. The male has a melodious
call-note, which may be syllabled as "clerk, lik, lik," to which the
female answers with a soft "peu, peu." The food consists of grain,
seeds, and insects, and at the times of migration this bird becomes
exceedingly fat and very good eating. The Quails that are found in our
markets are usually snared in Italy during the spring migration, and
used to be sent alive to this country, but they are now killed and sent
dead. It was a migration of this species that supplied the Children of
Israel with food in the desert, and large flocks still pass through
Palestine yearly on migration.
The Quail is not unlike a small Partridge, and is of a uniform sandy
brown on the upper parts, with paler shafts to the feathers. The chin
and throat are white, with two brown crescentic bars, and sometimes a
brown streak down the centre. The breast is buffish and the under parts
white. This species shows a certain amount of variation in minor details
of plumage. Length 7 in.; wing 4·4 in.
THE LAND-RAIL
Crex pratensis, Bechstein
Grass lands throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland form the summer
home of this well-known and abundant species. It is a migrant, arriving
towards the end of April and leaving our shores again in September,
though a few individuals occasionally remain and pass the winter in
Ireland and some of the western counties of England. It is always more
abundant in the west, and during the last few years has become
comparatively scarce and local in our eastern and south-eastern
counties.
The Rails are birds of poor flight and skulking habits, rarely taking to
their wings unless hard pressed, and even at such times flying but a
short distance with legs hanging down, and soon dropping again into the
nearest cover. Immediately on his arrival the male Land-Rail, or
Corncrake as it is often called, utters his well-known crake--a harsh
"craak, craak," repeated with monotonous frequency, especially during
the long summer evenings and again before dawn.
The nest is placed in dense cover in the middle of some grass- or
corn-fields; it is a deep "scrape," generally hollowed out by the cock,
and lined with bents and grass. Eight to ten eggs are the usual clutch;
they resemble those of the Missel Thrush, being greenish white, spotted
and blotched with red, brown, and greyish. The male, who takes no part
in the incubation, is very attentive to his mate, bringing her delicate
tit-bits and accompanying her when she leaves the nest. Their food
consists of worms, slugs, snails, and other insects, as well as grain
and seeds, so that it is practically omnivorous. When the young are
hatched the "craking" ceases, and both parents brood and tend the young.
These when first hatched are jet black, and become fully feathered in
about a month or five weeks, their wing feathers being the last to grow.
Although they can run and leave the nest as soon as hatched, they do not
feed themselves for some days, but take all their food from their
parents' beaks. If the first clutch of eggs is destroyed the craking
recommences, and a second clutch is laid.
[Illustration: LAND-RAIL
_Crex pratensis_]
During the autumn moult this species, in common with the others of its
family, casts all its primaries at once, and is for about ten days
incapable of flight.
In winter it is found throughout Africa as far south as Cape Colony.
In winter the sexes are practically identical, the upper parts being
dark brown, with rufous edgings to the feathers; wing coverts chestnut;
throat and abdomen white; breast pale brown; flanks barred with brown
and buff. After the spring moult the male has part of the head, throat,
and breast ash grey. The female is greyer than in winter, but much
browner than the male, especially on the breast. The young resemble the
adults in winter, but the rufous margins are much broader. Length 10·5
in.; wing 5·25 in.
THE SPOTTED CRAKE
Porzana maruetta (Leach)
This is a smaller species than the preceding, and is found in marshes
and swamps. They visit us in small numbers every summer, and remain to
breed in suitable localities far more commonly than is usually supposed.
It is, however, a very skulking species and its only note is a low
"kwit, kwit," so that it is seldom either seen or heard, and the few
birds that are killed on migration are the only evidence we usually get
of its presence. In Scotland it is rarer, but has been found nesting in
Elgin and has occurred on migration in the Shetlands. In Ireland it is a
yearly immigrant, but only a few nests have been found. Except in its
liking for damper places, it resembles the Corncrake in most of its
habits.
The nest is placed in a reed-bed or tussock of sedge, often entirely
surrounded by water. It is formed externally of coarse weeds and lined
with finer materials. The eggs, usually eight to ten, are olive buff,
spotted and flecked with reddish brown. The young when first hatched are
black and take to the water readily, swimming about with the ease of
young Moor-hens.
The male is greenish brown on the upper parts, the feathers having
darker centres as well as a few small white spots; breast brown, spotted
with white; rest of under parts grey; flanks barred with brown. This
bird shows no great differences in plumage, the sexes and young being
much alike. Length 9 in.; wing 4·5 in.
THE LITTLE CRAKE
Porzana parva, Scopoli
The little Crake is a migrant breeding in Central Europe. To Great
Britain it is a very rare straggler, and has only been taken about a
dozen times, and only one instance is noted from both Scotland and
Ireland.
[Illustration: WATER-RAIL
_Rallus aquaticus_]
It is a rather smaller bird than the preceding species, from which it
may be readily distinguished by the absence of spots on the throat or
breast. Length 8 in.; wing 4·2 in.
BAILLON'S CRAKE
Porzana bailloni (Vieillot)
This species has only been met with in these islands on the spring and
autumn migrations; on one or two occasions it has been recorded as
having bred in the eastern counties, but although there is no great
improbability about this, British-taken eggs have never been thoroughly
authenticated. On the Continent it breeds freely in Western Europe, from
Holland southwards as far east as North Italy.
In plumage it closely resembles the Little Crake, from which it may
always be distinguished by having the outer web of the first primary
white. Length 7 in.; wing 3·45 in.
THE WATER-RAIL
Rallus aquaticus, Linnæus
This species is tolerably abundant throughout Great Britain wherever
swamps and sedge or reed-beds are sufficiently large to afford it cover.
It is most abundant in winter, when our native birds receive large
additions from the Continent, especially during severe weather.
During the breeding season it is very noisy, making a loud and peculiar
noise, known in some localities as "sharming." Extremely loth to take
wing, but swimming, and diving with great facility, it is very difficult
to get a sight of this bird, except during severe weather, when the
cover is more scanty, and lack of food compels it to leave its usual
haunts. The nest is placed in a thick tuft of sedge or reeds and is a
deep cup-shaped structure of flags; the eggs are pale creamy white,
flecked with a few reddish spots, and are seven to nine in number. The
food consists of worms, snails, and other aquatic insects and plants.
The adult has the back dark brown, with broad olive brown margins to the
feathers; cheeks, neck, and breast lead grey; vent buff; flanks black,
barred with white. Bill red. Length 11·5 in.; wing 4·75 in.
The young have the under parts dull brownish, barred on the flanks with
dark brown. The female has occasionally some of the wing coverts black,
barred with white, but this is a very variable feature. This species is
subject to considerable differences in size and also in the intensity of
colouring on the beak, breast, and under parts.
THE MOOR-HEN
Gallinula chloropus (Linnæus)
This is the commonest, tamest, and best known of the Rails, and occurs
abundantly throughout the British Isles wherever some water surrounded
by cover is found, even though it be a small ditch or pond. It has even
penetrated into the heart of London, and may be watched as it comes out
to pick up the crumbs thrown by the passer-by, and takes them back to
her young concealed in the rushes. Their food consists of insects,
worms, slugs, aquatic vegetation, and a certain amount of grain. In some
districts considerable damage is done in early spring to the watercress
beds, the fresh tender shoots being nipped off as soon as they start to
grow.
[Illustration: MOOR-HEN
_Gallinula chloropus_]
In April several nests are partially begun; these are generally situated
in clumps of sedge or rushes, but are sometimes built under bushes, or
even trees, at some height above the ground. In one of these
partially-built structures the eggs will be laid, and as soon as the
site has been definitely chosen a considerable amount of material is
added, and the higher leaves of the sedge are often bent over so as to
conceal it from above. The young when first hatched are black, with the
base of the beak bright red like that of their parents, but after about
a fortnight this colour is lost, the beak and frontal plate becoming
brownish green. The first few weeks are spent entirely on the water or
in the thick cover fringing the banks of a pond or stream, and at such
times the half-completed nests are utilised as nurseries on which to
brood the young. Both parents feed and tend the young, and on the
approach of danger safety is sought by diving. When swimming the
Moor-hen proceeds slowly, with a curious bobbing motion of the head and
neck, and on land, when undisturbed, it walks slowly, raising its tail
at every step and thus displaying the white under tail coverts; if
alarmed, however, it lowers its head and runs with considerable rapidity
and shows no white whatever. It remains on the ground all day and roosts
at night among the sedges and rushes, but in frosty weather it
invariably roosts on trees.
The sexes are much alike: the upper parts dark olive brown; head, neck,
and under parts bluish grey; the flank feathers streaked with white,
under tail coverts white. Bill bright red at the base, with yellow tip
in summer; dull olive brown in autumn and early winter. Legs greenish
yellow. The young have the chin white, under parts greyish brown; they
are also greyer on the back than the adults. Length 13 in.; wing 6·75
in.
THE COOT
Fulica atra, Linnæus
The Coot is found on most of the open sheets of water throughout the
country; it differs from its other congeners in being far less skulking
and spending most of its time out on the open water, and procures much
of its food by diving. Its feet are lobed, that is to say, have flat
extensions of the skin which is constricted at the joints, down all the
toes.
The nest is a huge structure of reeds and rushes placed well away from
the shore, in a small clump of reeds, and the eggs, which number seven
to ten, are very pale stone colour, minutely speckled and dotted with
dark brown. The young bird when first hatched is black except for his
head, which is sparsely covered with coarse down-like hairs of a red and
orange tint.
Its food consists of aquatic insects and vegetation, as is the case with
the Moor-hen. In winter, although a resident, it collects in large
flocks, and many visit the bays and estuaries round the coast, receiving
considerable additions to their numbers from the Continent. The Coot is
extremely wary and difficult to approach, taking wing on the least sign
of danger; it flies well and fast, carrying its legs stretched out
behind, but has to run along the surface of the water for some distance
before it can rise. The sexes are alike and have the whole of the
plumage sooty black, with a narrow white bar across the wing. Bill and
frontal plate white; legs dark green. Length 15 in.; wing 8·5 in.
Although as a rule this bird casts its primaries at once, this is not
invariably the case, as it sometimes moults them in pairs like the
majority of birds.
THE CRANE
Grus communis, Bechstein
Three centuries or more ago the Crane bred regularly in our eastern
counties, and for long afterwards it used to appear as a regular migrant
every winter. At the present time, however, it is an extremely scarce
and irregular visitor. It still breeds in Southern Scandinavia and
thence southwards and eastwards throughout the whole of Europe. Its
general colour is dark slaty grey, devoid of any markings. The inner
secondaries are long and drooping and conceal the tail. The adults have
a red warty patch on the crown. Length 45 in.; wing 21 in.
THE GREAT BUSTARD
Otis tarda, Linnæus
In the early part of the sixteenth century the Great Bustard was well
known and widely distributed throughout the moors and plains of England
and the lowlands of Scotland. The increasing population, and cultivation
of waste lands, gradually diminished localities suitable to its habits,
and in 1838 the last eggs of our indigenous birds were taken.
At intervals irregular wanderers still occur in different parts of our
islands, and several attempts to reintroduce this fine species in recent
years have failed. In Spain, parts of Germany, and Southern Russia, this
species is still to be found as a resident and breeding bird, but over
the rest of Europe it is only known as an irregular visitor.
The male has the head bluish grey; rest of upper parts brownish buff,
barred with black; wing coverts white; quills blackish. Breast banded
with chestnut and grey; belly white. Length 43 in.; wing 24 in.
The female is smaller and lacks the band on the breast.
THE LITTLE BUSTARD
Otis tetrax, Linnæus
The Little Bustard is only a scarce visitor, and has most frequently
occurred on our southern and eastern coasts. It is a south European
species, but breeds regularly on the plains of France, where it arrives
in April and leaves in September.
The general colour of both sexes is sandy brown, streaked and
vermiculated with black on the upper parts; the under parts are chiefly
white. In summer the male has the throat and upper breast black, shading
to grey on the chin, and crossed with irregular white bars. Length 17
in.; wing 9·5 in.
MACQUEEN'S BUSTARD
Otis macqueeni, J. E. Gray
This is an Eastern species, breeding from Asia Minor eastwards towards
the Caspian and Aral Seas, and has only occurred on two or three
occasions in these islands.
This species may be recognised by having a crest of white feathers
tipped with black, and a blackish ruff on the sides of the neck. The
rest of the plumage above is buff, vermiculated with black, and the
under parts are white. Length 38 in.; wing 15·5 in.
THE STONE-CURLEW
Oedicnemus scolopax (S. G. Gmelin)
The Stone-Curlew is a summer visitor to this country, frequenting wild,
sandy "brecks," and undulating chalky downs. It is therefore a somewhat
local species, being commonest perhaps in the "breck" district of
Norfolk and Suffolk; it is also found on the downs of most of the
southern and eastern counties, as well as on the Chilterns and in one or
two other counties to the north, but in the west of England, Scotland,
and Ireland it is entirely absent, and has only occurred on very few
occasions.
Sandy brown in colour, it assimilates so well with its surroundings that
it is very difficult to see, and when approached will often "squat,"
stretching its neck out to its fullest extent, and so escape
observation. It runs with great rapidity and flies strongly, its flight
rather resembling that of a Pigeon, while the white bars on the wing
coverts show up conspicuously. Its food, which is chiefly taken at dusk
and dawn, consists of insects of all kinds, especially beetles.
Living as it frequently does in districts away from water, it journeys
nightly to a favourite watering-place. The note is a loud whistling cry,
which is uttered at night, and during the early spring these birds are
very noisy.
The two eggs are deposited towards the end of April or beginning of May
on the bare ground, a spot where there are many loose stones, among
which they are very difficult to see, being usually chosen. In colour
the eggs are pale clay spotted and streaked with dark brown, those in
the same clutch being often very dissimilar in markings. Both sexes
assist in the duties of incubation and rearing of the young, who, when
first hatched, are pale buff with a longitudinal dark line down each
side of the back. Their legs are much thickened, a feature common to
many Limicoline birds, and this has led to this species being sometimes
known as the "Thick-Knee." In August old and young gather together in
flocks and shortly afterwards take their departure, though occasionally
individuals have been known to pass the winter in this country.
[Illustration: STONE CURLEW
_Oedicnemus scolopax_]
The sexes are alike in plumage. The upper parts are of a uniform sandy
brown, with dark streaks down the centres of the feathers; some of the
wing coverts tipped with white to form two narrow bars. Neck and breast
pale brown streaked with darker. Throat and belly white. There is also a
white stripe under each eye. Bill yellow with a black tip; legs greenish
yellow. Length 16 in.; wing 9·25 in.
The young are similar to their parents but browner, and the tail
feathers are more barred.
THE PRATINCOLE
Glareola pratincola (Linnæus)
The Pratincole is a native of Northern Africa, Asia Minor, and
Palestine, but it also nests in certain suitable districts in South
Europe, where it is only known as a summer visitor. In England it has
not infrequently been taken on both spring and autumn migrations.
The adult has the upper parts clove brown. Tips of secondaries, tail
coverts, and bases of tail feathers white. Under wing coverts chestnut.
Throat buff, margined with black; breast brownish, turning to white on
the belly. Length 10·5 in.; wing 7·5 in.
THE BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE
Glareola melanoptera (Nordmann)
This is the Eastern form of the above, nesting from the shores of the
Black Sea eastwards to the Altai. Two specimens, which came over in
company with the commoner species, were shot in Kent in June 1903.
It may be recognised by the under wing coverts being black and the
absence of the white tips to the secondaries.
THE CREAM-COLOURED COURSER
Cursorius gallicus (J. F. Gmelin)
Inhabiting dry and arid regions south of the Mediterranean, this species
has nevertheless wandered up to our islands on several occasions, and
curiously enough always on the autumn migration, between October and
December. The general colour above and below is sandy buff; quills and
under wing coverts blackish. There is a dark stripe behind the eye, and
the nape is bluish black, this colour extending forward to the eye.
Length 10 in.; wing 6·3 in.
THE DOTTEREL
Eudromias morinellus (Linnæus)
A lonely, bleak and bare wind-swept moorland, where the scanty herbage
is kept short by the elements and the wandering flocks of mountain
sheep; and where the sounds of nature are supplied on most days by the
wind as it rushes down the valleys between the rounded hill-tops, to the
accompaniment perhaps of the Curlew's wild whistle, or where on the few
calm days in summer a deathly silence prevails, broken only by the
humming of a bee as it visits the purple heather, or the clear "go back,
go back" of the male Grouse. In such a spot one may hear a low
monotonous whistle, or have one's attention attracted by a small flock
of rapidly flying birds skirting the crest of the hill; these are
Dotterel, and this is their summer home. This bird is extremely, one
might almost say foolishly, tame, though often owing to this tameness it
will escape observation, for, instead of taking wing as we approach, it
will either stand motionless, or running to the far side of some patch
of heather remain unseen, as its colours harmonise so well with the
surrounding heather.
The nest is a mere scrape in a bare spot, and hardly any materials are
brought together, though a few bits of moss and lichen may be arranged
round the eggs. These are three in number and are greenish in colour,
very boldly blotched and marked with brown. Both sexes perform the
duties of incubation and attend to the wants of the young when hatched.
In this country this species is only a migrant, and in September leaves
the hill-tops, and passing through the lower lying counties of England
wings its way to other climes.
The sexes are alike and are sandy brown on the back, with longitudinal
fulvous markings; there is a white stripe over the eye. Chin white;
breast ash brown, bordered with a narrow white transverse band; lower
breast chestnut; belly black. In winter the under parts are pale ash
brown. The young have rufous edgings to the feathers of the back, but
otherwise resemble their parents in winter dress. Length 9 in.; wing 6
in.
THE CASPIAN PLOVER
Ægialitis asiatica (Pallas)
Two examples of this eastern Plover, which inhabits the Caspian and Aral
Sea region, were obtained near Yarmouth in May 1890.
It is not unlike our Common Ringed Plover, but lacks all the black
markings on the head, and the band across the breast is bright chestnut,
edged along its posterior margin with black. Length 7·5 in.; wing 5·6
in.
RINGED PLOVER
Ægialitis hiaticola (Linnæus)
Few people can have walked along our shores without having their
attention attracted by the plaintive whistle of this delightful little
bird. It will suddenly be seen flying past, the dark ring showing up in
contrast to its white breast, while as it gets farther away a light line
across the outspread wing will also help to distinguish it. When it
settles, especially if among stones and shingle, we shall have hard work
to see it, while the oft-repeated note, sounding first on one side and
then on the other, and coming apparently from the dark stones
themselves, tends to bewilder us. There is no month in the year when we
cannot find this bird on our shores whatever be the weather--amidst a
howling winter's gale and driving sleet, or under the blazing summer's
sun, when we can see the heated air vibrating over the burning stones,
he is still there, apparently absolutely unmoved by the all-powerful
forces of nature. But the time to see him at his best is in May; we are
walking along when suddenly his well-known note strikes our ears, and we
see him running along in front of us; we sit down to watch him and he in
his turn will suddenly stop, and then running to some stone slightly
higher than its neighbours, stand up and watch us. His mate soon joins
him and together they stand, now running a few yards and then turning
round give us another look, while they bob their heads up and down at
the same time with a motion so characteristic of the Plovers. Finally,
seeing that we do not go away they both get up and, calling out as they
do so, fly off; but in a minute or so one of them is back again, sitting
and watching us from his old stand. They have evidently a nest somewhere
near, and equally, evidently, the hen has evaded our vigilance and is
closely sitting on her treasures. Disappointed we rise to go, and on our
doing so the hen rises apparently from the ground within six feet of us
and runs away.
One step, and there on the bare stones are four pear-shaped eggs lying
close packed, with their narrow ends to the centre, and practically
indistinguishable from the shingle on which they lie. In colour they are
pale clay, uniformly covered with black spots and mottlings. As soon as
the birds see that their treasure is discovered they fly round us,
calling out continually till we pass on, leaving the hen to resume her
duties. The young are covered with thick down when hatched, and are
brown, mottled with black on the back; below white, with a black ring
round the chest. They leave the nest as soon as they are hatched, and
very shortly begin to feed themselves on the various spiders, flies, and
other small insects that abound in such places. Both parents carefully
watch and tend them, flying up on the approach of danger, while the
young squat closely on the ground, where they become almost invisible.
Their wings grow when at the age of five weeks, by which time they are
nearly as large as their parents, and are then well able to take care of
themselves and wander away to join the flocks of their own kind, or to
amalgamate with other passing wanderers, and add their cries to swell
the sounds of the shore, which are such a delight to every naturalist.
The sexes are alike in plumage. General colour above pale sandy brown;
below white. Forehead white, succeeded by a black band; lores and band
across chest black. Legs bright yellow; beak black, yellow at its base.
The young resemble the adults, but lack the black band on the forehead;
the chest band is brown concolorous with the upper parts. The legs olive
green.
Generally distributed along the shore and in some inland sandy places
throughout the British Isles.
[Illustration: RINGED PLOVER
_Ægialitis hiaticola_
Male (right). Young (left)]
THE LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
Ægialitis curonica (J. F. Gmelin)
This species breeds in Scandinavia and throughout Europe, being rather
scarcer in the west. To our shores it is only a very occasional
straggler, not more than half-a-dozen authenticated instances being
known.
It resembles the preceding species, but is rather smaller in size, paler
in colour, and the bill is narrower, longer in proportion, and wholly
black. The best characteristic, however, is that the shafts of all the
primaries, except the outer ones, are dusky, whereas in the Ringed
Plover they are all flecked with white to form a conspicuous bar when
the wing is opened. Length 6·5 in.; wing 4·5 in.
THE KENTISH PLOVER
Ægialitis cantiana (Latham)
As the Ringed Plover is one of our commonest shore birds, so the present
species is one of our rarest, and it will never be met with unless a
special journey is made to that lonely stretch of shore, which is its
only home in these islands. In habits it is almost the counterpart of
the Ringed Plover, but is a true migrant, arriving in April and leaving
in September. The note is a short monosyllabic whistle and quite
distinct from that of the preceding species.
It is a smaller bird than the Ringed Plover, which it otherwise
resembles, except that the dark band across the chest is broken in the
centre. Female and young resemble the male, but the band on forehead and
chest is brown instead of black, and of the same colour as the upper
parts. Length 6·25 in.; wing 4·25 in.
THE KILLDEER PLOVER
Ægialitis vocifera (Linnæus)
Only two examples of this American species have been shot in England. It
is a larger bird than any of our other Ringed Plovers, which it somewhat
resembles, but it may be recognised by its rufous rump and upper tail
coverts, a black subterminal bar and white tip to all the tail feathers
except the central pair, and the presence of two narrow black bands
across the breast. Length 9·5 in.; wing 6·5 in.
GOLDEN PLOVER
Charadrius pluvialis, Linnæus
The home of the Golden Plover is on the lower slopes of those hills the
tops of which the Dotterel takes as his own, for the Golden Plover
prefers the cover afforded by the tall heather and the more abundant and
varied insect diet of the lower lands.
As we walk up the hill we first hear his shrill whistle, and soon see
him coming to meet us. Settling some yards ahead, he pipes his whistle
incessantly, and then as we approach he flies on to some other
upstanding boulder, and so on for perhaps half-a-mile, till, having
escorted us to the limits of the ground over which he claims suzerain
rights, he hands us over to the ruling chief of the next territory; Thus
in a walk over the hillside we find ourselves incessantly accompanied by
one of these birds, whose cry is never out of our ears. We have,
however, only noticed half the game, for the birds that have been
accompanying us are almost always male birds: his duty it is to stand on
some exposed mound while his hen crouches amid the heather on her
precious eggs, four pear-shaped beauties, the black spots and markings
showing up against their greenish ground colour. On the first appearance
of any intruder he will sound his pipe and fly off towards us, while his
mate quietly leaves her eggs, and, flying low, circles round till we see
her apparently coming up from a direction diametrically opposed to that
in which her treasures lie. It will be unavailing for us to lie in wait
hoping to watch her return to the nest, unless we are completely
concealed, for he will keep a close eye upon us, and until his warning
whistle is quiet she will not return. When the young are hatched both
birds meet and follow us, while in response to the warning, the young
squat close to the ground, under some sheltering piece of heather, and
so defy detection. In autumn these birds collect in large flocks, and
though many remain on the moors all the year round, the majority come to
the marshes near the sea and gradually pass southwards.
The sexes are alike in plumage. The whole of the upper parts are dark
brown, with two or more yellow spots on the margins of each feather. The
throat and breast are black, bordered by a clear-cut white line. Bill
and legs black. In winter the black on the throat and chest is replaced
by white, with pale brownish mottlings across the latter. Length 11 in.;
wing 7·5 in.
The young resemble their parents in winter but the yellow is brighter,
and there are traces of yellow across the breast. It is generally
distributed throughout these islands, breeding commonly on the
moorlands, and becoming much more numerous in Scotland.
THE LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER
Charadrius dominicus, P. L. S. Müller
This species is subdivided into two forms, one of which is found in
Eastern Asia, while the other is an inhabitant of North America.
Examples of both these forms have been shot in the United Kingdom,
although the American form, as might be expected, has occurred the more
frequently of the two.
Both these forms may be distinguished from our common species, which
they closely resemble, in having the axillaries smoke grey instead of
white. Length about 9 in.; wing 6·75 in.
[Illustration: GOLDEN PLOVER
_Charadrius pluvialis_
(left)
GREY PLOVER
_Squatarola helvetica_
(right)]
GREY PLOVER
Squatarola helvetica (Linnæus)
Very similar to the Golden Plover in general appearance, but the yellow
spots are replaced by whitish, and the hind toe is lacking. A few weeks
in spring and autumn along the shore is all the time this bird spends
with us; he passes the winter in the warm tropics of Africa, wandering
southwards as far as the Cape, and then, obeying some mysterious impulse
of which we can form no conception, he journeys in May northwards, and
passing over many spots, which would to our ignorant eyes afford him
food and shelter sufficient for the rearing of his young, he seeks out
the wild and lonely tundras of Europe and Siberia.
There during the eternal day of an Arctic summer he rears his family,
and as soon as they can fly, old and young are back again on our shores.
For some weeks they remain, slowly passing to the south, and, unlike the
Golden Plover, rarely coming inland; but by the middle of October they
are all back enjoying once more the burning sun of the tropics.
The white tail coverts and absence of the hind toe will prevent any
confusion between this species and the Golden Plover. Length 11·5 in.;
wing 7·75 in.
THE SOCIABLE PLOVER
Vanellus gregarius (Pallas)
This species is a native of South Russia and the Aralo-Caspian area.
Until a few months ago, when a second example was procured in Kent, it
had only once (in 1860) been taken in England.
The general colour above is drab; crown of the head black, margined with
white. Quills black; secondaries white; tail white, with a subterminal
brown band. Chin white; throat buff; breast brown; belly black; flanks
and under tail coverts deep chestnut. Length 12 in.; wing 8 in.
THE LAPWING
Vanellus vulgaris, Bechstein
No wild bird has perhaps to pay so large a tribute in eggs and
individuals to man, and yet remains as common and abundant, as the
Lapwing.
Early in March he appears on the marsh or water-meadows, where he or his
parents before him have been accustomed to spend the summer; sometimes
dry fields at some distance from the water are chosen, but as a rule it
is never far from a river, stream, or even a moderate-sized pond.
Although many pairs often nest in the same field, fierce battles take
place between the males for the mates of their choice, but there is more
"show" than strife, lengthy aerial chases with much calling out but very
little serious fighting. Once, however, these early difficulties have
been overcome, the colony settles down in peace, a few ousted pairs
being left to seek some fresh ground.
The nest is merely a shallow platform of roots and bents, placed on a
small hollowed-out "scrape" on the ground. Over the actual choice of a
site there seems to be some difficulty, as many "scrapes" are generally
to be found within a few yards of the spot eventually chosen. Towards
the latter end of March the four pear-shaped eggs, so well known in
poulterers' shops, are laid, and the hen commences her incubation
duties, which last about nineteen days. During this period her mate
wanders about in the vicinity of the nest, keeping an ever-watchful eye
for any intruder. As soon as we are seen approaching he is up in the
air, flying round with a great noise and performing at the same time a
curious tumble, but recovering himself before touching the ground; after
two or three minutes of these antics however, he goes away, having
apparently no further interest in us or the place. We may then walk
about the field in vain so far as that pair is concerned, for they will
not return to settle while we are there and the eggs are so protectively
coloured that the chances of our seeing them, even if we walk right by
them, are exceedingly remote. While we were watching the male bird
perform his curious antics, the hen, warned by his cries, quietly
slipped off the nest, and flying low skimmed the next hedge and so away,
and he, having watched her safely into a neighbouring field, goes off to
join her and leaves us to find the eggs if we can. If we retire,
however, they will not be long gone; he will soon fly back, and having
ascertained that the danger is over and uttered no warning cry, she will
immediately follow, and settling near the nest, run to it and once more
cover her eggs. When the young are hatched, however, matters are very
different; both birds will then rise, and flying round our heads beseech
us with piteous cries to leave their young alone.
These cries serve the purpose of making the young squat and hide, and
their greyish green down with black mottlings so exactly assimilates in
colour with the ground, that they are almost impossible to see. The
young leave the nest as soon as they are hatched, and utter a feeble cry
not unlike that of the adults; at first their parents feed them most
carefully, picking up grubs, flies, spiders, or any other insect that
comes their way, while the young run up and take it from their beaks,
but in a few days they feed themselves, though still carefully watched
and fed by their parents. When they are full grown, at about six weeks
old, they collect in large flocks and wander over the country. In
October and November enormous flocks come over from the Continent and
settle often for three weeks or a month in a particular field, which is
usually resorted to yearly by these birds. As winter comes on they
wander about according to the weather, wherever they can find suitable
food, but with the first warm days of February the return north begins,
and March finds them back once more in their summer home.
[Illustration: LAPWING
_Vanellus vulgaris_
Adult, summer (right). Young (left)]
The upper parts are of a beautiful metallic green, the crown of the head
and crest being almost black. Quills black, tipped with grey on the
three outer pairs; tail feathers white, with a broad subterminal band of
black on all save the outer pair; breast black; under tail coverts
chestnut; rest of under parts white. In summer the chin and throat are
black. In the female the crest is rather shorter and the outline of the
extended wing is straighter. Length 12·5 in.; wing 8·75 in.
The young bird has buff margins to the feathers of the upper parts.
THE TURNSTONE
Strepsilas interpres (Linnæus)
Breeding in the Far North as well as on some islands in the Baltic, the
Turnstone is only a migrant to our shores, spending some weeks with us
in autumn and returning again on a flying visit on its way to its
breeding-quarters. A small minority spend the whole winter with us, and
occasionally birds in full nuptial dress have remained in one locality
all through the summer, but its nest has never yet been found in these
islands.
Although it may be met with along almost any part of the coast, it is
most partial to rocky places and spots where shingle banks are found
amongst patches of mud. Its food consists of insects and crustacea of
all kinds, and its name is derived from the habit of turning over stones
for the sake of the insects that are thus exposed.
The nest is generally placed on the sea-shore close to high-water mark,
little rocky islets just off the shore being very favourite localities.
The eggs are four in number and very characteristic of this species,
being greenish grey in ground colour, spirally streaked with brown. It
is a late breeder, rarely having eggs before the beginning of June.
After the nesting season it at once moves southwards, young being met
with on our shores by the middle of August. At this time of year it
collects in small parties of from twenty to forty, and where not
disturbed they are fairly tame and allow their curious method of feeding
to be easily observed.
This bird is very variable in plumage when adult: the head and neck are
variegated with black and white; mantle variegated with chestnut and
black. Rump and under parts white. Tail brown; breast and shoulders
chiefly black. The female resembles the male, but is slightly larger.
Most of the chestnut colouring is lost in winter. The young have the
upper parts brown, the feathers edged with white. Under parts white.
Collar and a patch on each side of the breast dark brown. Length 9 in.;
wing 6 in.
THE OYSTER-CATCHER
Hæmatopus ostralegus, Linnæus
No one who has been along the shore in winter can have failed to notice
the large flocks of black-and-white birds--Sea Pies as they are often
called--sitting on a sand-spit and, like Canute of old, defying the
tide. There they sit, till, when the water is just about to touch their
feathers, they all rise as though with one mind, and shrieking out their
shrill call as they go, pass along to the next promontory which will
afford them dry foothold for a few minutes longer. Such is the
Oyster-Catcher and such his life, restless as the tide itself near which
he lives. He is a common and abundant bird throughout the year on all
our coasts, feeding more especially on mussels and limpets, which its
powerful wedge-shaped bill enables it to detach from the rocks. Other
food such as crustacea and marine insects are also eaten. Early in
spring the large flocks begin to break up into pairs.
As a rule the nest is on the shingle or the top of a low rock just above
high-water mark, but where the rocks are steep and precipitous it is
placed on the top of the cliff, many feet above the sea-level. In
Scotland they sometimes nest inland along the river banks. The nest is
merely a slight depression round which a few snails' shells or stones
are laid, and it is to this habit rather than from its food that it owes
the name of Oyster-Catcher. The eggs, two or three in number, are pale
clay, freckled and spotted with black. Incubation is carried on by the
hen, while her mate stands on some point of vantage from where, on the
approach of a stranger, he gives vent to his loud and noisy "keep, keep,
keep," which is continued until the supposed danger is past. On the
first note of alarm the hen leaves her nest and soon joins in the chorus
with her mate.
The young when first hatched are dark greyish brown, mottled and striped
with black; they are at once taken to the shore and are very carefully
watched over by their parents, who, when the tide is out, take them a
considerable distance below high-water mark. One brood only is reared in
the season, and as soon as the young can fly they begin to gather again
into flocks.
The head and neck, scapulars and mantle, lesser wing coverts and tip of
the tail are black, the rest of the plumage white. Bill orange
vermilion; legs pink. The sexes are alike, and in winter there is a
white crescent round the top and front of the neck, and the bill is
horn-coloured at the tip. The bill is continually growing and so
counteracting the wear and tear to which it is subjected. Length 16 in.;
wing 9·75 in.
THE AVOCET
Recurvirostra avocetta, Linnæus
If only the amasser of British killed specimens could be exterminated
and the protection laws of this country more rigidly enforced, the
Avocet might once more become a local breeding species in some of our
counties. At present, however, a few birds arrive in our southern and
eastern counties yearly, and it is to be feared that but few live to
cross over to their breeding grounds in Holland. It used formerly to
breed in considerable numbers in the marshes of Kent and Sussex, and
along our flat eastern shores, but on the west and in the north it has
never been more than an extremely rare and local visitor. The nest is
placed on the mud or sand in an estuary, and at no great distance from
the water, and consists merely of a very small collection of dry bents
and grass. The eggs are three to four in number and pale clay in colour,
speckled with black. The note is a clear "kluit," generally uttered on
the wing, and when disturbed these birds are very noisy. Their food
consists of small insects and crustacea, which are captured by a
sideways motion of its curiously shaped bill. It almost always feeds in
shallow water, and when feeding walks along, slowly moving the bill from
side to side on the surface of the mud. It usually flies high, and from
its coloration and long neck is not unlike a Sheld-Duck when at a
distance, but its clear and loud "kluit, kluit," soon betrays its
identity.
[Illustration: OYSTER-CATCHER
_Hæmatopus ostralegus_
Summer]
The sexes are alike; the head and back of the neck, scapulars, median
and tertiary wing coverts and some of the primaries black. Rest of the
plumage white. Bill black; legs pale blue. In the young the black
portions are brownish. Length 10 in.; bill 3·2 in.; wing 8·5 in.
THE BLACK-WINGED STILT
Himantopus candidus, Bonnaterre
This species is only a very scarce straggler to our shores, generally
during the summer months. Its chief breeding grounds are along the
shores of the Danube and Black Sea, and in the marismas of Southern
Spain, whence it migrates to Africa in winter.
In the adult the mantle and wings are greenish black; tail grey; the
rest of the plumage white. Bill black, and the long legs rose pink.
Length 13·6 in.; bill 2·5 in.; wing 9·5 in.; legs 10 in.
GREY PHALAROPE
Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnæus)
This species only appears as an irregular autumnal visitor on our
south-eastern and southern shores, though it has been obtained both in
Scotland and Ireland. In food and habits it resembles the Red-necked
Phalarope, but its breeding range is more northerly, and is in fact
circumpolar. It is extremely tame, and allows a close approach as it
swims in shallow sheltered places a few feet from the margin of the
shore, beach pools, or inland ponds, where it happens to be.
Its visits to this country are almost always in autumn, when it is in
the grey plumage, which is grey on the back and white beneath, with a
white forehead and a black streak running backwards through the eye.
Bill black. The sexes are alike and the young similar but buffish on the
chest.
A few solitary examples are sometimes seen in nuptial dress during the
spring or very early autumn. In this plumage the head and back are
black, with rufous margins to the feathers; cheeks white; under parts
chestnut. Bill yellow. The male is rather duller in plumage than the
female. Length 8·25 in.; wing 4·9 in.
[Illustration: GREY PHALAROPE
_Phalaropus fulicarius_
(left)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
_Phalaropus hyperboreus_
(right)
Both in winter]
THE RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
Phalaropus hyperboreus (Linnæus)
The Phalaropes are delightful little birds of very aquatic habits, and
form a splendid instance of how similar environment tends to the
production of similar structure. They may be easily recognised from
other limicoline or wading birds by their very close feathering,
especially on the breast, and their lobed feet, while in the Grey
Phalarope, especially, the bill is somewhat flattened, so that in these
birds we find a tendency towards the flattened bill as in Ducks, lobed
feet as in the Grebes, and the peculiar thick feathers on the breast
characteristic of Petrels and Gulls. The Phalaropes have also another
peculiarity unique among British birds, although shared by several other
groups in different parts of the world, namely that the duties of
incubation and rearing of the young are conducted entirely by the male
bird, and in correlation with this habit the female does all the
courting and is brighter in plumage.
One or two spots in Scotland and Ireland are the only remaining places
in our islands where this delightful bird may be found nesting, and as
an autumn and winter visitor it is decidedly rarer than the preceding
species, and very seldom found inland during the winter months. When
visiting us it will usually be seen swimming in some sheltered tidal
pool or in one of the ditches of the marsh, close to the sea-wall. Its
food consists of small insects and crustacea. At its breeding haunts it
is extremely tame, running about within a few feet of the intruder.
Its summer home is usually on some inland bog, and the nest is placed on
a small tussock in a very wet place, often entirely surrounded by water.
The eggs are four in number, very pyriform in shape, and large for the
size of the bird, but owing to the nest being a deep cup, the surface of
the eggs that has to be actually covered by the bird is comparatively
small.
In colour they are pale olive very thickly spotted and streaked with
black. The male undertakes all the duties connected with the young, the
female taking no notice of the nest after the laying of the last egg.
Frequently the female at the beginning of the breeding season is
accompanied by more than one male, so that it is probable that polyandry
exists in this group, as it has already been proved to do in other cases
where the courting is undertaken by the female.
The call-note is a low "wit, wit, wit." In summer the head, neck, and
shoulders are lead grey, the back and wings darker, with a mixture of
pale rufous. A bar across the wings white. Sides and front of the neck
chestnut; breast lead grey; chin and rest of under parts white. The male
is rather duller than the female. In winter the forehead crown, and
under parts are white, feathers of the back grey, with white margins.
The young have rufous margins to the feathers of the back, but otherwise
resemble their parents in winter dress. Length 7·5 in.; wing 4·4 in.
THE WOODCOCK
Scolopax rusticula, Linnæus
The Woodcock is best known in these islands from the vast numbers that
annually arrive during October to pass the winter with us. Although
fairly well distributed at this time of year, they are most abundant in
Ireland and our western counties, where they form one of the chief
objectives of the shooter.
As its name indicates, the Woodcock spends most of its time in woods and
plantations, flying every evening to wet meadows and marshes in the
neighbourhood, where it feeds on worms and other insects, and returning
to the woods before daybreak. On its passage to and from its feeding
ground it always follows certain tracks, which are in consequence often
known as "cock-roads." Early in March the vast majority take their
departure for their breeding grounds in Northern Europe, but some remain
to nest with us, and of late years its numbers as a breeding species
have considerably increased.
The nest is a slight depression among dead leaves, generally at the foot
of a tree. The eggs are four in number and yellowish white in colour,
blotched with ash grey and reddish brown. When the young are hatched
they are sometimes removed by the parents, the female being said to
carry them by holding them pressed closely to her body between her legs.
In common with all Snipe, the eye is placed far back on the head, and it
has recently been shown that the external aperture of the ear is placed
forwards in front of and below the eye.
The sexes are alike in colour and are reddish brown on the back,
vermiculated with dark brown. The under parts are drab, barred with a
darker shade. There is much individual variation in tint. Length 14·29
in.; wing 7·5 in.
The young resemble their parents, but are rather more barred on the
back.
THE GREAT OR SOLITARY SNIPE
Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin)
A few individuals of this species, chiefly immature birds, visit our
south and east counties yearly in autumn. Over the rest of the United
Kingdom it is an exceedingly rare and irregular visitor.
It breeds in Scandinavia and across Northern Europe, extending
southwards into Russia, Poland, and North Germany; over the rest of
Europe east of the Rhone Valley it is common on migration and during the
winter months.
It may be distinguished from the Common Snipe by its larger size,
proportionately shorter legs and bill, and more boldly barred under
parts. It has sixteen or more tail feathers. Length 10·5 in.; bill 2·3
in.; wing 5·5 in.
[Illustration: WOODCOCK
_Scolopax rusticula_]
THE COMMON SNIPE
Gallinago coelestis (Frenzel)
This bird is found wherever swamps, marshes, and damp meadows suitable
to its habits are still left, and is a common resident throughout Great
Britain, receiving large additions to its numbers from the Continent
every autumn.
Very early in April it begins to nest, making a fairly deep "scrape" in
a damp spot, generally in some rough grass or other cover, and lining it
with a few bents and leaves. The eggs, four in number, as is the case
with all wading birds, are greenish olive, spotted and blotched, often
spirally, with various shades of brown, and there are also a few black
markings near the larger end. The young when first hatched are reddish
chestnut, mottled with black and white.
During the breeding season this species may often be seen "drumming" or
"bleating." This is a sound much like the "bleating" of a goat, and
considerable doubt as to how it was produced has long existed, although
a Swedish naturalist stated many years ago that it was brought about by
the rapidly vibrating tail feathers as the bird descended at a certain
angle through the air. This has recently been clearly proved as correct
by an English observer, Mr. P. Bahr, who points out that the sound is
produced by the two outer tail feathers, which during the flight are
held out widely separated from the rest of the tail. The sound can be
produced artificially by placing these feathers on a cork and rapidly
whirling them round with a piece of string. During the breeding season
it utters also a loud vocal "chip, chip," when on the ground, while when
suddenly flushed the alarm-note of "scape, scape" is well known. Its
flight is very rapid and direct when once on the wing, but on first
rising it flies in short zig-zags, offering a very difficult shot.
Sometimes, however, it will "squat" on the approach of danger, and even
on a bare patch of mud becomes almost invisible, so well do its colours
harmonise.
Its method of "squatting" is rather peculiar, for it puts its beak down
and its body and tail well in the air and generally pressed up against
some growing vegetation. In this position the two light dorsal stripes
appear like blades of grass, and all trace of the contour and shape of
the bird is lost.
The sexes are alike in plumage. The general colour above is dark brown,
with a light buff stripe across the crown and two stripes of a similar
colour down the back, which is also mottled with buffish. Cheeks and
chin are white, flecked with dark brown; chest and flanks ash brown;
rest of under parts white. The young resemble their parents. Length
10·75 in.; bill 2·5 in.; wing 5 in.
There is a dark variety of this bird, known as Sabine's Snipe, which is
occasionally met with, especially in Ireland. It has the whole of the
under parts ash brown, barred with black, and the light stripes on the
back are absent. Intermediates between the normal and the true Sabines
are not uncommon.
THE JACK SNIPE
Gallinago gallinula, Linnæus
Breeding in the north-western corner of Europe, as far east as
Archangel, the Jack Snipe is only a winter visitor to this country,
arriving towards the end of October and often not leaving our shores
till well on in summer, but there is no authenticated case of its ever
having bred with us. In habits it closely resembles the Common Snipe,
but lies much closer when being "walked up," and then rising at one's
feet goes off at a great pace. It is a more solitary bird than the
Common Snipe, and a single individual may often be found for a whole
winter in the same spot.
During the breeding season it "drums" in the same manner as the Common
Snipe, the noise having been compared to the cantering of a horse on a
hard road. The eggs are similar in colour and only very slightly smaller
than those of the Common Snipe.
It may be recognised by its short bill and smaller size, and from its
having only twelve instead of fourteen tail feathers. Length 7·5 in.;
bill 1·5 in.; wing 4·25 in.
THE BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER
Limicola platyrhyncha (Temminck)
This species, although it may sometimes have been overlooked, is a very
scarce wanderer to our shores. Nesting on the tundras of North Europe,
it migrates eastward in winter to the shores of the Levant.