A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.

  • George Montagu
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Foolish Guillemot ore an article of trade iu several of the isles off the coast of Scot- land, and ai-e used for refining sugai-. They are also eaten by the natives there, as well as in other parts; to procure which they are suspended by a rope, and let down from the top of the cUfls; others climb up and down by Uie help of a crook fiistened to a pole; many perish in this dangerous emploj'ment. This bird is not so plentiful as the Guillemot; and it is remai'kable that although they breed in the same clifts they rarely are found to lay on the same ledges or shelves of the rock, but keep their breeding-places distinct, even where they swarm like bees about a hive. Supplement. — Having in our own opinion adduced ineontrovertable reasons, under tlie head of Auk, BlackbiUed, to show that it is perfectly distinct from this, we shall candidly enume- rate our observations from personal ex- perience. It AviU be seen in the former part of the ‘ Omitliological Dictionary,’ that in the young of tliis species taken in the month of July, before they could fly, no difference was observable in plumage from the adult. It is true we have since had repeated ocular proofs of this fact, but we aclmowledge to have had our astonish- ment excited hy a young specimen brought to us alive on the 4th of August, 1802. This was larger than those we had usually obtained (some of which had not any white from the bill to the eye), but it was still incapable of flying, the quills not having anived at matmity. The hiU was desti- tute of furrows, but the line of white fea- thers from the bill to the eye was as con- spicuous nearly as in adults; the upper part of the head and cheeks hlack; the throat speckled hlack and white; on the upper paid of the neck before, and on the sides, several white feathers were observ- able amongst the black, and upon lifting up the feathers on those parts, a great many young white feathers were seen emerging through the skin. Now by com- paring the plumage of this bird uith that of the young of inferior age and size, and both mth the adult, and -with the Black- billed Auk, we sh^ find circumstances with respect to plumage not reconcileable but by considering them the same species, subject to variety, were 'it not for other incontrovertible facts to the contraiy. To a collector only of these subjects it might appear, that a certain degree of gradation in plumage was apparent (being ignorant of habits, weight, and measurement), since in the most infant plumage the early young resemble the parent in the whole hetwl and neck being black, and only dif- fering in the want of the white line to the eye. At a further advanced age (but before tlie quill-feathers are perfected), the white line from the hiU to the eye is vei7con- spicuous, and the white feathers on the tlu'oat and neck appealing in spots, it might be inferred that the cheeks would next become spotted, and lastly, that the black on these paiis would wholly disap- pear, and thus unite the two into one spe- cies. If indeed the union rested upon plumage alone, the appearance of the white line of feathers fi’om the bill to the eye would be unfavourable to the cause, because in no one instance have we ob- served an appearance of such a mark in the Blackbilled Auk tiU after the month of December, and very obscurely in the month of January. Besides in all the Foolish Guillemots taken in the winter, not the least difiference is observable in their plumage from what it is in the sum- mer months. But to that bird, whose habits are similar, we refer for further particulai-s. It is indeed extremely cUfli- cult to account for some of the changes observed in the plumage of particular birds; but it certainly appears very un- likely that the EazorbiU, who at first is destitute of such a mark, and afterwards in the month of August, before it could fly assumes this white mark, should again discharge it in October or November, to appeal' in the dress of the Blackbilled Alik; and again acquire it in the month of March, when they first appear as Eazor- bills on our rocky coasts. But even if this most singulai' and uncommon change of plumage (no less than four times ■within the space of eight or nine months) was ad- mitted to be effected hy the EazorbiU, the other species has been traced to its breed- ing place, and possessing habits of dis- tinction : and it is well kno'wn, that until birds airive at an adult state of plumage, they are incapable of breeding. That many birds duiing the whole period of their Eves change part of their plumage spring and autumn, is well known; but we do not recoUect any instance where the young assume the most perfect summer plumage of the parent bird, to change it again for the -winter dress, such as adult birds are frequently obseiwed to eflfect, ex- cept in a few instances where the inhabit- ants of the snowy regions assimEate the colour of their plumage to thefr situation. The instance of some of our well-laiown bii-ds will serve to exemplify the fact. The Grey and Wliite 'VVagtaUs both change a part of their plumage after the breeding season; the black feathers on the throat are replaced by white ones. The Golden Plover is destitute of the black on the fore part of the neck and breast, ui the winter, which characteiizes it in the breeding
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