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
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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![on or very near the ground, at the bottom ' of a furze, or some other bush ; is com- j posed of moss and bents, lined with hair, i and sometimes mixed with small feathers, j The eggs are five in number, of a blue- colour, with small rufous spots at the ' larger end, which in some are faint, in which case it is scarcely to be known from those of the Whinchat; their weight is about thirty grains. It is probable this species quits its usual place of abode, the dreary moors and furzy commons, iu very severe weather, as we have observed iu some of the most temperate parts of Eng- land, Devonshire and Cornwall; for, on the fall of a considerable quantity of snow, not one was to be seen where many were the day before; nor did they return for some time after the snow was melted. It is hardly possible they should quit the kingdom in the middle of winter ; and yet none were to be seen anywhere about that country. It is likely a partial migra- tion takes place in autumn, as we do not see so many in winter as in summer. In the early part of the spring it sings very prettily, springing into the air, and sus- pending itself some time on wing. But as it breeds so eaidy its song is of short dura- tion, as few bii-ds sing after their young are hatched. When the young leave the nest the old birds are extremely clamorous and bold, and are as artful in enticing any one from their young as they are in con- cealing their nest. [Stone Curlew. — See Bustard, Thick- kneed.] Stone Runner.—Many of the Sandpipers so-called. Stone Smith, or Smich.—See Stone Chat. [Stork, Black.— Yarrell,ii. 501; Hewit- son, Ixxxiv. 319. Ardea nigra, Montagu, Linn. Trans, xii. 19; Selby, Brit. Ornith. ii. 48 ; Temm. Man. d'Ornith. ii. 501. — “ In the adult bird the beak and the naked skin around the eye are red, tinged with orange; the irides reddish brown ; the head, neck all round, upper surface of the ■body, wings and wing-coverts are glossy black, varied with blue, puiple, coppei'- coloured and blue reflections ; the priraai'y quill-feathers and the tail black; the whole of the under surface of the body, from the bottom of the neck to the end of the under tail-coverts, white; the legs and toes orange-red; the claws black. There is no difference in the plumage of the sexes. The whole length three feet four inches. From the carpal joint to the end of the wing twenty-one inches ; the beak, from the point to the angle of the gape. seven inches; length of the middle toe four inches ; of the tarsus eight inches ; of the naked part above, four inches and a half.” — Yarrell, 1. c. Colonel Montagu’s specimen was shot in West Sedge Moor, adjoining the parish of Stoke St. Gregory, Somersetshire, on the I3th of May, 1814 : he gives the following account of its habits in confinement:—“ Like the White Stork, it frequently rests upon one leg; and if alarmed, particularly by the approach of a dog, it makes a considerable noise by re- iterated snapping of the bill, similai’ to that species. It soon became docile, and would follow its feeder for a favourite morsel—an eel. When very hungry it crouches, resting the whole length of the legs upon the ground, and supphcantly seems to solicit food by nodding the head, fiapping its un wieldly pinions, and forcibly blowing the air from the lungs with audible expirations. Whenever it is ap- proached, the expulsion of air, accompa- nied by repeated nodding of the head, is provoked. The bird is of a mild and peace- ful disposition, very unhke many of its congeners; for it never makes use of its formidable bill ofiensively against any of the companions of its prison, and even submits peaceably to be taken up without much struggle. From'the manner in which it is observed to search the grass with its biU, there can be no doubt that reptiles form pai’t of its natural food; even mice, worms, and the larger insects, probably add to its usual repast. When searching in thick grass, or in the mud, for its prey, the bill is kept partly open : by this means I have observed it take eels in a pond with great dexterity: no spear, in common use for taking that fish, can more effectually receive it between its prongs than the grasp of the Stork’s open man- dibles. A small eel has no chance of escaping when once roused from its lurk- ing-place. But the Stork does not gorge its prey instantly, hke the Cormorant; on the contrary, it retires to the margin of the pool, and there disables its prey by shaking and beating with its bill, before it ventures to swallow' it. I never observed this bird attempt to swim ; but it will wade up to the belly, and occasionally thrust the w'hole head and neck under water after its prey. It prefers an ele- vated spot on which to repose; an old ivy-bound w'eeping-willow', that lies pros- trate over the pond, is usually resorted to for that purpose. In this quiescent state the neck is much shortened b}' resting the hinder part of the head on the back : and the bill rests on the fore part of the neck, over which the feathers flow' partly so as to conceal it; making a very singular ap- pearance. The Black Stork, perhaps, is](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0354.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
