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

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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$SPOTTED CILVKE. STARE. transverse undulated ridges of black; the margin formed by a groove running from the nostrils, and surrounding the bill, is punctui’ed; the point, which for an inch is nearly smooth, is of an orange-yellow; on the inside of both mandibles, near the base, are several protuberances on each side: from the bill to the eye, and tbe orbits, bare of feathers, and of an orange- yellow, without any fine down, described by some authors. The whole plumage is white, except the lower pai-t of the neck, which is yellowish buff, becoming faint be- hind : the feathers on the top of the head increase in length by degrees; those of the hind head ai-e from three to five inches long, forming a most beautiful flowing crest of slender yellowish white feathers. The Spoonbill has been rarely observed with this fine flowing crest, but probably this is lost after the breeding season, and not resumed till towards the following spring; for there can be no doubt that the male is possessed of such a crest as well as the female. The trachea is somewhat compressed, and the cai’tUaginous rings are very fine and tender; at the lower part is a flexure, reflecting and again returning, two inches or more in length, before it enters the cavity of the breast; this con- volution forms somewhat the figure of 8, but the flexures only touch, not cross each other, and the points of contact are united by fine membranes. Eutfon remarks the double inflection in the trachea of this bird, and compares it to what has been ob- seiwed in the Crane. Willughby says, “ We did not observe in our bird those reflections of the windpipe which Aldro- vandus mentions and figures.” Surely Willughby must have been deceived, since it is now proved that the female has this singular flexure in the windpipe ; and in no instance has that sex been observed to possess any singularity, in that part, of which the male is destitute. In the stomach of the specimen here described, there were several small fishes in a half- digested state, and some common stickle- backs perfect in the msophagus. The flesh of this species is remarkably dark-coloured when dressed, but well-flavoured, being free from any fishy taste. It is remark- able that both these birds were killed in company with the Common Heron. [Spotted Crake.—See Gallinule, Spotted.] [Spotted Eagle.—See Eagle, Spotted.] [Spotted Flycatcher. — See Flycatcher, Spotted.] [Spotted Gallinule.— See Gallinule, Spot- ted.] [Spotted Guillemot. — A variety of the Black Guillemot.] [Spotted Redshank.—See Snipe, Spotted.] [Spotted Sandpiper.—See Sandpiper, Spot- ted.] [Spotted Snipe.—See Snipe, Spotted.] [Spotted Water Hen. — See Gallinule, Spotted.] Sprat Loon.—See Diver, Speckled. Spurre,—See Tern, Common. [Spurwinged Goose. — See Goose, Spur- winged.] [Squacco Heron.—See Heron, Squacco.] [Standgale. — A name given by Mudie to the Kestrel.] Stannel.—See Kestrel. Stare.—A genus of birds, the characters of which are : Bill strait, depressed. Nos- trils guarded above with a prominent rim. Tongue hai’d and cloven. Toes, middle one united to the base of the outmost as far’ as the first joint. Stare, or Starling. — \^Yarrell, ii. 44; Hewitson, Iv. 216.] Sturnus vulgaris, Lin. Syst. i. p. 290, 1; Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 801; Ind. Orn. i. p. 321, 1; Bail Syn. p. 07, A. 1; Will. p. 144, t. 37 ; Bris. ii. p. 439, 1; Ii. 8vo, i. p. 280. L’Etourneau, Buf. iii. p. 176, t. 15. Stare, or Starlirrg, Br. Zool. i. No. 104, t. 46 ; Ih. fol. t. P. 2, f. 1; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 331, A.; Will. Angl. p. 190, t. 37 ; Albin, i. t. 40 ; Ib. Song Birds, t. 3, p. 11; Hayes, Br. Birds, t. 32 ; Lewin, Br. Birds, ii. t. 56; Lath. Syn. iii. p. 2 ; Sup. p. 137; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 195 ; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 8.—Weight about three ourrees ; length eight inches and three-quarters. The bill is not quite an inch and a half long, bluish at the base, yellow at the point, and when opened the gape extends fur back in the head ; the nostrils are sui'- rounded by an oval prominent rim ; irides hazel. The head, neck, and ujrper parts of the back are black, glossed with purple and green, as viewed in differerrt lights; the feathers on the neck aj-e long, inirr'ow, and pointed ; the breast, lower part of the back, coverts of the wings, aiul rump are black, shaded with dark green ; the whole plumage, throat excepted, elegantly marked with small spots, white on llie breast, and yellowish brown on the head and back; the larger quill-feathers are dusky on the$